Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 275

1841.

Chusan Archipelago.

263

the south, Grave island and the Beacon rock on the east, Guard. house and Tea islands to the west. It is 3 cables wide and 6 cables long, the depth of water varies from 4 to 8 fathoms; at the eastern extreme, is a patch of rocks with two fathoms, lying S. 85° W. 1 cable from the Beacon rock, which may be avoided by keeping the Chusan shore on board until Sarah Galley is open by Trumball.

Deer island passage. The inner harbor also may be entered from the eastward by passing between Deer and Sarah Galley islands, which are 1 cable apart. The Beacon rock, to the northeast of Sarah Galley, may be passed close on either side. The Chusan shore may then be steered for, keeping 1 cable to the eastward of Grave island, and when the harbor Beacon rock opens with Grave island it may be steered for: pass between it and Chusan, and keep the Chu- san shore on board until Sarah Galley island is shut in with Trum- ball. This passage is superior to the South or Straight passage, as although in some parts it is only 11⁄2 to 14 cable wide, the limits are always marked, except off the northeast end of Deer island, from whence a spit extends I cable northerly. It is also the only passage into the harbor, in which the flood tide is in your favor all the way.

Anchorage between Trumball and Sarah Galley. There is good anchoring ground between Sarah Galley and Trumball islands, in 8 to 10 fathoms. A spit extends from the southeast extreme of the lat ter, the 3 fathoms line being 3 cables from the shore. By keeping the south end of Macclesfield open of the summit of Tea island it will be avoided.

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Suburbs. The suburbs called Taontow contain many houses, forming a long street, running parallel to the beach. To the east, and close to the water's edge, is a small hill, with a temple or joss-house on it (the mark for the south rock) 122 feet high.

The level ground intersected by canals extends 1 mile to the eastward, where it is terminated by a ridge of hills 642 feet high, extending down to the beach, upon which are 3 beacons, 2 round and I square; the latter is 595 feet high, and also one of the marks for the north rock. Westerly from the suburbs the level ground extends 1.1 mile, a ridge of hills 450 feet high run down to the coast, form. ing two points. There are also 3 beacons on this ridge, the central one is 323.7 feet above mean tide level.

The latitude of the eastern of these points (the one opposite Guard- house island) was ascertained to be 30° 0′ 20′′ N. and its longitude 122° 5′ 18′′ E.