675037-1883-Hydrographic-Notices- — Page 7

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH JANUARY, 1883.

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Carpenter range. The coast near Nau-sa bay is low and wooded, rising gradually to the Carpenter range, the summit of which, is a high flat hill visible from near cape Cami.

Ooshek hill is an isolated peak westward of mount Carpenter, and from the vicinity of Tong-chong bay, appears like a round islet on the horizon.

seen,

GUIE-CHAU ISLAND.---The Gulf north-east of Guie-chau is shallow, and many fixed fishing stakes may be some in 9 fathoms, and a few even in 12 fathoms water. There is no reason to suspect shoal water on meeting with them, but irregular and shallow soundings do exist eastward of a line drawn from Kwan-tau point (Pakhoi), to Mongtau ledge.

Discoloured patches of small diameter having an appearance of shoal water are very common between Guie-chau and Pakhoi. They are only detached mud whirls, or weed patches.

Current. When the current is westerly in Hainan strait, there is an easterly and north-easterly set near Guie-chau

island.

Chai-une island, except from eastward, shows a high bold cliff at its west extreme, above which is the summit of the island (500 feet high).

HAINAN ISLAND, EAST COAST.

TY-CHAU OR TINHOSA island, is 24 miles in extent in a N.N.W. and S.S.E. direction, and formed by two hills united by a sandy isthmus which partly covers at high water springs, and from bearings of about N.E. by E. and S.W. by W. appear as two islands. The southern hill (1,083 feet high) is in lat. 18° 39′ 50 N., long. 110° 28′ 0′′ E., very bold and is higher than any other summit on this part of the coast. The northern hill has two summits about half the height of the other. They are covered with thick foliage chiefly pandanus and palmettos.*

A sandy spit with 3 fathoms on it least water, lies 6 cables S.W. of the north extreme of the island, and is 5 cables long in a north-east and south-west direction. There are soundings of 5 to 7 fathoms north-west and south-west of it.

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Directions.-Anchorage.-Tinhosa south hill is steep-to on its south and east sides, and a vessel may stand in westward of the island, until the sand isthmus bears N.E., when steer for it, and anchor in 6 fathoms sand, as soon as the western points of the north part of the island are in line.

Tinbosa island has risen in importance, as an anchorage or refuge during strong N.E. Monsoon, since steam vessels have adopted the direct route from Singapore to Hongkong. It affords a perfect lee, and is the last anchorage at hand before a vessel leaves the friendly shelter of the coast, and steers out for Hongkong. It must not, however, be used as a typhoon harbour, for it is open to the southward. The German steamer Quinta, took refuge here during a typhoon in 1881, and on the wind shifting was driven ashore.

Route. If coasting up under the lee of Hainan island, a steamer should pass midway between Nankin island and Mun-chau coast, then giving a wide berth to Green point which is foul for a distance of 14 cables, stand over for the centre of Tinhosa, and when within a quarter of a mile of it, stand to N.N.W., keeping at that distance from the island until the spit is passed.

Green point consists of a long range of low hills terminating in a cliff, off which a shoal extends about 14 cables. The coast, from Green point, trends N.E. N., 12 miles to False point, showing a flat country faced with sand beach, with here and there hills rising like islands on the coast. Some of these hills project seaward, and form shelter for junks during the N.E. Monsoon. Baker Hill, one of these, has a small pagoda north-west of it.

Round island, (340 feet high,) and about 200 yards in diameter, lies 9 miles, N.E. & N. of Green point, and a rock awash at low water lies half a cable's length S.E. of it.

False Tinhosa is an islet 150 feet high, off False point, and from a S.S.E. or N.N.W. bearing, a pillar rock shews at its eastern extreme. A rock (10 feet high) stands on the end of a ledge running out N.N.W. of False Tinhosa. There is little or no shelter under this island.

The Coast. From False point, which is 494 feet high, the coast trends northward nearly straight for about 15 miles, where another point projects, having hills behind it. At 6 miles from False point, two black rocks, 20 to 30 feet high, guard the entrance to a small river where there are cocoa nut plantations. The country is flat with a few small hills dotted about, and there is deep water within 2 miles of the shore as far as the two black rocks; but, north of these, breakers com- mence, extending half a mile off shore up to the next point. There was no other islet seen up to lat. 19° 04′ N.

TONCON is a dark coloured mountain, from which a point with three or four hill-rocks stretches 24 miles to S.S.E. A cluster of rocks above water, one of which is 15 feet high, extend half a mile from the point. It does not appear that there is proper shelter under the point in a strong monsoon, for when the Magpic visited it, the swell was rolling in, and breaking heavily along the whole line of shore, and several rocks just above water were seen in the most sheltered portion. The bay was also full of discoloured patches.

Caution. If standing northward by night along this coast, give Toncon a wide berth as there is always a set on to the shore.

Mofou point.t-Owing to the continual thick weather during the N.E. monsoon, Mofon point is frequently difficult to distinguish by vessels making it from north-eastward, It may be recognised by a conspicuous conical grave close to its extreme. Also, the hills west of Mofou point are of a raddish soil whilst those southward of the point are higher, and covered with black patches. A reef fringes the coast to the southward.

DIRECTIONS.-Vessels bound through Hainan strait from eastward, are recommended to make for North bank, as the soundings give good indications when approaching it, and when their position is determined, either of the channels can be taken.†

Captain Marsden, of steam vessel Kang-chi, who has used these channels on more than fifty runs from Hongkong, states that he steers for North bank, picks up the 20 fathoms line by sounding, and if dusk or thick, runs 5 miles pass it, when he turns north or south to feel for one of the banks. Having picked up a bank he steers through, generally sighting Hainan head.

Vessels bound from IIainan strait to Hongkong finding the monsoon heavy, may, on clearing the banks, shape course under fore and aft sails for Tien-pak, on nearing which, the wind and sea usually moderate. They should then pass north- ward of Round island by day, or outside Mandarin's Cap by night, and close past Wy-caup, when they can haul up for Great Ladrone island. Fine weather will generally be experienced between Nauchau and St. John islands.

* See China Sea Directory, Vol. II., p. 387-90.

↑ See China Sea Directory, Vol. II., pp. 389-90, 401, and Hydrographic Notice, No. 30 of 1881, pp. 2 and 6.