42
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH JANUARY, 1883.
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. 29.]
EASTERN ARCHIPELAGO.
NOTICE NO 22.
BORNEO, NORTH-EAST COAST.
The following information relating to the north-east coast of Borneo, from Mallawallé island to Sandakan harbour, has been received from Lieutenant R. Hoskyn, commanding H. M. Surveying Vessel Flying Fish, 1881-2.
[All bearings are Magnetic. Variation 2o 0' E. in 1882.]
Coast. The north-east coast of Borneo, between Silk island in Mallawallé channel, and Sandakan harbour, is generally low, densely wooded, intersected by numerous rivers and streams, and for a considerable distance from the shore the water is shallow and abounds with coral reefs.
As it would be impracticable from any mere written description, to navigate with safety among the numerous dangers which lie eastward of Mallawallé island, it will be sufficient to describe the principal dangers, the appearance of the various islands and objects which present themselves as marks, and the routes usually adopted by mariners acquainted with the coast; for further information the charts must be referred to.*
EGERIA ROCK, in the Mallawallé channel, was found to lie 23 miles S.W. by W. of the small islet off the west end of the island of Mallawallé. This rock, almost in mid-channel, is composed of two small heads of coral close to each other, and has less than 6 feet on it at low water, with a depth of 8 to 9 fathoms close to, all round.
Tide rips. A heavy tide rip was observed about 7 miles westward of Egeria rock, and 34 miles from the north coast of Borneo. The boats were sent to examine it, but owing to the strength of the wind and current at the time, no satisfactory · results were obtained.
LIN-GI-SAN.-A chain of remarkable rocks 25 to 30 feet high, lying about N.N.E. E., distant 13 miles from the north-east point of Bankoka.
Passage reef.-At the distance of 1 miles N.E. by N. of Lin-gi-san rocks, lies Passage reef; it is awash at low- water spring tides, is easily distinguished, and may be passed in safety on either side. Another reef, awash at low water, on which is a small sand cay, lies 3 miles E. & S., of Passage reef.
Clearing mark.-Banguey peak in line with west extreme of West island, Mallawallé, leads midway between these reefs.
Mandiralla, an island about half a mile in length east and west, is surrounded by a coral reef which, on the north and east sides, extends to a distance of about three-quarters of a mile.
It is densely wooded, the tops of the trees being 144 feet high. Foul ground extends about 3 miles E.S.E. of Mandiralla. Bankoka Hill, is a conspicuous, wooded hill, 587 feet high.
KUKUBAN is a sand cay situated on the south-west part of a coral reef of about half a mile in diameter; it is covered with trees 70 feet high.
Rocks.-Southward of Kukuban are two dangerous rocks; the northern lies S.E. by S. 1 miles from Kukuban, with 6 feet water on it, and can generally be seen from the mast-head. The southern rock, lying S. by E. E., distant 2 miles from Kukuban, has less than 6 feet water on it, and is very difficult to see. Much caution is therefore necessary when navigating in this neighbourhood.
TANI-BOUNGAAN is a thickly wooded island of considerable extent, about 4 miles south-east of Bankoka hill. Bush island is a sand cay on which are a few bushes, the tops of which are about 10 feet high.
Foul ground. Much foul ground exists between Mandiralla, the coast of Bankoka, Tani-boungaan, and Bush island. TIGABU is an island about a mile in length, and densely wooded, the tops of the trees being 227 feet high.
Reefs, extend about 3 miles in a north-easterly direction from Tigabu island. Between Tigabu and Kukuban are two reefs which are easily seen from the mast-head.
Tibakkan.-Situated about 2 miles north of the west point of Tigabu island is a sand cay covered with trees 108 feet high. Dangers cxtend 11⁄2 miles in a north-easterly direction from this island.
Tamboulian, Bu-a-ning, and the adjacent reefs form the south-eastern boundary of the Mallawallé eastern dangers. The channels between the Mallawallé eastern dangers, Tibakkan and its surrounding dangers, and Tigabu with its reefs, are each about a mile in width, and may be navigated with safety.
N.E. and S.W. BLUFFS.-Are two prominent headlands on the west coast of Jam-bangan. The former is 442 feet high, and the latter somewhat less.
From the coast of Jam-bangan, reefs and dangers extend to a distance of about 5 miles. On these reefs are many sand cays, two of which, Mabahōk and Kalangaan, covered with trees, are especially conspicuous; the former is 84 feet, and the latter 80 feet high.
SIPEENDUNG lies about 4 miles E. by S. S. of Tigabu; it is a sand cay covered with bushes, the tops of which are about 20 feet high. Dangers extend south and south-west of this island, nearly three quarters of a mile, and for about 23 miles in a N.N.E. direction the soundings are irregular, varying between 4 and 12 fathoms. On the north-west side dangers extend 14 miles.
Between the Sipeendung danger and the Tigabu reefs, there is a clear passage 14 miles wide.
One and a half miles south-west of Sipeendung is a small group of reefs, between which and the dangers south and south-west of Sipeendung, is a clear passage three quarters of a mile wide.
SANDY ISLAND is a small sand cay which sometimes covers; it lies about 4 miles S.E. by E. of Sipeendung. Reefs. Between Sandy island and Sipeendung is a reef which is easily seen from the mast-head. One and three- quarter miles S.W. of Sandy island is a patch of 4 fathoms, between which and Sandy island, there is a patch of 7 fathoms, and the soundings are somewhat irregular. Three quarters of a mile south-east of Sandy island is another patch of 4 fathoms. †
* See Admiralty charts:-Balabec strait, No. 948; Palawan island, No. 967; Sandakan harbour, No. 950; Sulu archipelago, No. 2,576; and China Sea, southern portion, No. 2,660b. Also Hydrographic Notices, No. 21 and 22 of 1881.
In Hydrographic Notice, No. 22 of 1881, page 1; omit last paragraph. (A four fathom shoal.)
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