Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 276

264

Chusan Archipelago.

MAY,

The variation of the compass was 2° 33′ E. in 1840: and high water, or fall and change days, 1 hour before the moon's transit.

Rise and fall of the tide 12 feet and 6 inches. Scarcely any change takes place in the depth of the water three quarters of an hour pre- vious and subsequent to high water. At low water the change in the depth occurred more rapidly. Ordinary tides rise and fall from 5 to 7 feet.

In all the channels, generally speaking, the change in the direc- tion of the stream does not alter until 1h. 40m. after the change has taken place in the depth. In the inner harbor, and along the coast of Chusan, the flood comes from the eastward; at the outer an- chorage, off the Elephant, from the southeast; between Bell and Tea islands, ships flood-rode tend to the northward. The strength of the tide varies from 2 to 3 knots. Strong breezes from the northward materially affect the rise and fall, the range in two conse- cutive days being sometimes 2 feet and 6 inches.

so called from

Chusan. The island Chusan (or Chowshan its supposed resemblance to a boat) is 51.5 miles in circumference, its extreme length being 20.8 miles; it lies in a northwest and southeast direction. The greatest breadth in any part is 10.5 miles. From the beach at Tinghae to the northern shore, the distance is 7 miles. Fowards the eastern end of the island it becomes narrower, never however being under 6.1 miles.

The city of Tinghae is a walled town 1.8 miles in circumference, situated 0.5 cables from the beach. There are four entrances situat- ed at each of the cardinal points, which are through double arched gateways at right angles to one another. The span of the outer one is 7 feet and 6 inches, and 9 feet high. The city wall is 14 feet and 9 inches high, surmounted by a parapet 4 feet and 6 inches. The width of the wall is 13 feet, and the parapet 2 feet. The southern face runs east and west. The western face north and south. The east face north 350 yards and then northwest. The northern face is irre- gular. On the northwest side the city is overlooked by a hill, part of which is inclosed by the wall. A canal 33 feet wide and 3 feet deep nearly encircles the city and enters it near the south gate. A canal and paved foot path communicate with the suburbs, but the principal means of communication with the sea is by a canal further to the

east.

There are three other commercial ports in the island, viz., Shin- keä mun, (Singkamong), Chinkeäng (Singkong), and Shaou.

Shinkeä mun, 沈家門 or Singkumong. This is situated at the

ţ

!

: