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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19 JULY, 1884.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 260.

The following Hydrographic Notices are published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 19th July, 1884.

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

The information contained in this Notice is to be carefully considered, to be noted in the Sailing Directions, and compared with the chart when the ship is navigating the parts to which it refers,

HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE.

[ No. 11. ]

CHINA SEA DIRECTORY. VOL. I.

NOTICE No. 8.

The following information relating to Sunda strait is derived chiefly from reports received from officers of Her Majesty's ships, and from publications of the Netherlands Government referring to the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, and to the earthquake wave with which the neighbouring shores were visited in August 1883.

(All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 2o Easterly in 1884.) '

SUNDA STRAIT.

The Volcano of Krakatoa island was in eruption in the year 1680, and although included within the category of active volcanoes, it remained in a state of comparative inactivity for upwards of 200 years.

In the year 1883, on May 20th, the volcano burst into eruption, accompanied by earthquakes, which were severely felt at Batavia, and at the same time vast showers of pumice and ashes were projected to a great distance. This eruption was observed from the Imperial German ship Elizabeth, and on the following day, when 100 miles from Krakatoa, a shower of dust was experienced which was estimated to become a layer one inch in thickness in 24 hours, and dust was observed to be still falling when the vessel had gained a position 300 miles south-west of Sunda strait. *

On 26th August 1883, Krakatoa again burst into eruption, and of such a terrible nature, that miles of coast on both sides of the strait were wholly devastated, and multitudes of people perished. On the 27th August, a succession of earthquake waves swept the shores of the strait, utterly destroying the towns of Anjer, Merak, Tyringin and Telok Betong, together with some of the lighthouses on both shores. This remarkable disturbance of the sea made itself felt in various parts of the world upon the same date, notably in Australia and Southern Africa, also at Karachi in India.

The vast amount of pumice which lay upon the surface of the sea, in some places many feet in thickness, gave an appearance as if the ocean bed had appeared above water.

The following are some of the principal changes in the locality, resulting from the eruption, as defined from the recent surveys by the Netherlands Government Surveying vessel Hydrograaf. ↑

GREAT CHANNEL.-The Great channel or that between Krakatoa island and the coast of Java has not changed in such a manner to affect navigation, as far as can at present be ascertained.

Thwart-way Island presents the appearance of being split in consequence of the destruction of the high trees which occupied the low ground and valleys.

MERAK. A post office and telegraph station has been established near Merak in place of that destroyed at Anjer, and a semaphore has been erected on Great Merak island.

Light.-A fixed white light visible from a distance of 10 miles, is exhibited from Great Merak island,' and shows seaward of Fourth point to one-third of a mile westward of St. Nicholas point, except when intercepted by islands.

KRAKATOA ISLAND.-The larger part of Krakatoa island, or that portion northward of the peak has subsided, and where the northern hills of the island formerly stood, there is now upwards of 80 fathoms, water.

The whole group of islands adjacent are covered with volcanic mud.

Verlaten island is nearly three times larger in area than formerly, and is 587 feet high; it is also an active volcano separated from Krakatoa by a channel 2 miles wide.

Bezee Channel.-This channel is now obstructed by islands and dangers, and should on no account be used. The two new islands in this channel, named respectively Steers island and Calmeyer island, are low banks of mud and punice, their configuration is continually altering, and they are stated to be gradually subsiding.

The channel between Sebesie and Sebooko islands is reported dangerous, and until further examination is made had better be avoided.

Stroom Rocks.-A rock which is stated to be well known to the local pilots, lies one mile south-east from Stroom

rocks.

*

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 1st April, 1884.

Berlin, Annalen der Hydrographie, Heft 3 of 1883.

Se Admiralty Charts:-Eastern archipelago, No. 9412. Tyingkokh bay to Sunda strait, No. 2,761, Sunda strait, &c., No. 2,056. Also, China Sea Directory, Vol. I., 1878, pages 157-189. Notices to Mariners. Nos, 254, 275, and 331 of 1883,