GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL.
395
With an ebb tide and winds N. E. Vessels should not hug the Island of Corregidor too closely, tacking when necessary between Points Fuego and Limbones-where the current is less, or to the West of Corregidor if entering by Boca Chica, which is the better entrance on a N. E. wind.
The Coast both N. and S. of the Corregidor is quite free from all dangers up to Point Luzon on the North and Point Fuego to the South. Vessels can tack well up to the land, avoiding of course too near an approach.
The Monja has deep water all around and close up to it.
The Lechones are clean with the exception of one rock, which has six feet of water on it, about a cable's length from shore, and bearing S. 8 deg. W. from the most Easterly rock.
Outside the Corregidor there are the ports of Mariveles and Hamilo. The first to the N. W. of the Island (a plan of it is to be found on the chart of the Bay) is generally used as a halting place for tide or wind-bound vessels, anchoring on the Eastern side, and a look-out must be kept for the strong gusts which are felt sometimes on entering; during S. W. winds it is necessary to anchor on the sheltered or Western side. The port of Hamilo is a safe port, with an easy entrance, at the beginning of a typhoon; it is on the Southern coast at the bottom of the first Bay, between Points Fuego and Limbones-about five miles south of the latter. To find the anchorage steer South from the entrance to Manila Bay till two small barren islands are sighted-the one to the North, near to the land, having the appearance of an old fort in ruins; proceed between these islands or to the South of them, and when near to the ridge of the small pointed islands that cover the entrance, leave these to starboard-steering East and keeping the centre of the passage, in which there are 18 to 20 fathoms of water, with sandy bottom, until you reach a suitable anchorage,-8 to 9 fathoms will be found inside with a mud bottom, and 4 fathoms close in to the shore. Caution is required in making this port from the sea, as two barren islands further to the South than those just described might be mistaken for them; these are close to Point Fuego, where the coast bends to the S. E.; they afford no shelter, and are surrounded by a rocky bottom.
The coast of Mariveles is free from danger until it diverges to the North, from whence towards Pampanga, and then only within 3 or 4 cables' length from the shore, some rocks have been touched by vessels venturing too near.
The island of Corregidor may be approached fearlessly on all sides but the Eastern, where a small pointed rock exists with a ridge, extending South about half-way between the Island and Pulo Caballo.
There is a passage between Pulo Caballo and Corregidor, but it is not recom- mended.
The Fraile has deep water all around, and close up to it.
The Southern coast, as far as the high land extends, is clean, with the exception of some rocks about half a mile from the beach off the second point E. of the small island Sinalan in a line with the Fraile. On leaving the high land the lead will show shallow water very often, and vessels should not approach too near the low land in this vicinity. During Easterly and South Easterly winds, it is safe to approach the coast between Point Fuego and Limbones, and in short tacks get past the small island of Sinalan, from whence a clear course opens to weather Pulo Caballo.
Vessels beating up Manila Bay should endeavour to reach the northern coast before night, so as to avail of the land breeze, which becomes weaker in proportion to the distance from the land.
St. Nicola's Bank is situated in a line with, and about half way between, the Corregidor and the steeples of the Cavite churches, it is about 1 miles in circum- ference, and its least depth of water, one fathom, is on the N. E., increasing towards the N. and N. W. to 3, 6, 12 and 18 fathoms within a distance of one cable's