675037-1883-Hydrographic-Notices- — Page 9

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH JANUARY, 1883.

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BACK-LI BAY.-Pyramid point, the south limit of Back-li bay, is a low flat sandy point bearing a steep rock 138 feet high, the summit of which is in lat. 19° 4′ 30′′ N., long. 108° 36′ 30′′ E.

Anchorage.-Pyramid point affords protection from S.W. monsoon for small vessels, in 3 fatlioms, mud, 9 cables N.E. of the rock. A reef fringes the shore at a distance of 2 cables from high water mark, and 3 fathoms will be carried close up to it.

Rock. A rock 10 feet above high water, shows about 2 miles south of Pyramid point. The coast towards Shoal point is one long sand beach, nearly straight, and off it there is shoal water for many miles.

CHUN-YAN BAY is small and shallow, with a river entering it by several mouths. There is a walled town 4 miles south of Bluff point.

Bluff Point (120 feet high), is bold and rocky, with 8 fathoms close to its north shoulder, shallowing to 4 fathoms off the shoulder entering Chun-yan bay. There is a high sand cliff on both faces, that on the south face, falling abruptly into Chun-yan bay. This declivity kept on a bearing of N.E. by E. † E. will, allowing for tide, lead between the northern and southern sand banks off this coast.

Banks.-The extent of the Northern bank is doubtful, as it seldom breaks, but the Southern bank stretches out from Six fathoms will be found 6 miles off See-ku-sá sand point about 5 miles, shows discoloured, and breaks in a fresh breeze. this point, 9 and 10 fathoms between the banks, and shoaling to 6 fathoms in Chun-yan bay.

There is probably shelter from S.W. monsoon immediately northward of Bluff point.

The Coast.-From Bluff point the coast trends N.E. by E, 15 miles to Hoita, commencing with a high sand beach and getting low and darker coloured towards Saddle hills, which are 1,060 feet high. Near Hoita the coast is foul.

HOITA* is very conspicuous with its white houses and junks, and the Saddle hills are the best guide from any dis- tance, they being the only isolated coast hills between Pingmar and Bluff point.

Anchorage.-Do not approach within a mile of the village without a pilot, but anchor in 7 fathoms with the small white fort bearing E.N.E.

The coast from Hoita trends N.N.E. for 7 miles to Flat point, which is comparatively high (200 feet), but level, and then turns into Chappoo bay.

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CHAPPOO BAY.-The reef in the centre of the bay has a sand islet on it, 6 feet high, Pillar Point.-A small pagoda stands low down near the point. High sand shows on both sides, the pillar being The small islet connected with Pillar point at low water only distinguishable from northward, when close in to the coast.

is 40 feet high.

Coast.-At the extreme of Pingmar point there is a pyramidal bluff 50 feet high. From this the coast is low, round a small open bay to Pillar point.

HAU-SUI BAY. The land is low and flat all round the bay, but rises a little inland southward and south-eastward. Eight miles east of Pingmar point, is a cone shaped crater topped hill, (Koong-chin), 683 feet high.

Anchorage.-Enter the bay with Koong-chin hill, bearing S. by E. 1 E., until Chun-kwan-yan (Stumba island), Anchor in 4 fathoms, three-quarters of a mile S.W. by W. bears East, when haul up, keeping it a little on the port bow. of the island.

Heong-pi.

Heong-Pi.-About 4 miles E.N.E. of Chun-kwan-yan island is a very small boat harbour formed by reefs called MOUNTAINS.-The Ng-Chi range (5,870 feet), pronounced Ung-Chee, signifies the Great Five Fingers, and is named after one of them that has five remarkably steep peaks on it. This is not visible from seaward, though other ser- rated peaks are frequently visible. They occupy the centre of the island, midway between False Tinhosa and Pyramid point, and the highest of them are usually visible from Hainan strait.

The most remarkable of these, is Dome (2,645 feet high), which appears from the northward like its name implies, but as a perfect sugar loaf from the westward.

North of the Ng-chi range, the whole island is level, with here and there isolated hills.

Southward of these, range below range of hills, slope gradually to the south coast.

HAINAN STRAIT.

SOUTH SHORE.†-From Heong-pi, the coast trends in a curve 15 miles north-eastward to Western Cap, which is a conspicuous lump, like Mandarin Cap near Ching-mai point.

Reefs, some of which show at low water, fringe the shore as far as Western Cap, and this coast should not be approached within 2 miles, or in less than 10 fathoms. From the Cap, the coast turns south-eastward forming an open bay 6 miles in width, at the eastern end of which, Houg-pi-kok marks the vicinity of Maniu.

HOI-HOW BAY.-Backsha spit, has extended S. by W. W., 24 cables, and therefore should not be used as a leading mark.‡

NORTH SHORE.-Cape Cami,§ Tides.-It is high water full and change at cape Cami in the winter months at 2h. 45m. a.m.

Directions. The banks westward of Hainan strait give plenty of warning by soundings, to vessels approaching from north-westward or westward, and but little warning by soundings, from eastward. The widest passage is between the bank with 18 feet on it, and Laamkoo, care being taken to keep at least 2 miles off the coast.

Vessels proceeding to Pakhoi from eastward, round cape Cami at a distance of 2 miles, and then haul up for Chai-une island, sighting it, and then passing west of Guie-chau island before steering for Kwan-tau point, Pak-hoi.

Those bound to Hai-Phong, should make Bacht-long-vi and then the Norway islands. East or west currents of consi- derable strength may be experienced on this track, but very little north or south set need be feared, unless the monsoon is very strong.

Vessels from the westward, should not attempt to make the strait on a dark night, as both coasts are low and dangerous. If, however, either coast is well aboard by tlusk, a mid-channel course may be taken until the lights of Hoihow town or those of the vessels in the bay are sighted. The bay is frequently empty of vessels.

SOUTH COAST OF CHINA.

NAU-CHAU ISLAND.|--Directions.-Approaching from north-eastward, Jacquelin hill will be first sighted, do not approach it within 9 miles, until it bears W. by N., by which time Nauchau island will be seen, when steer for the north point of that island..

Erratum. -In Hydrographic Notice, No. 13, of 1882. Page 4, line 22, for Noo-shik or Oo-skek hill which appears low and isolated, read Carpenter range will first appear, as a long flat hill, then the Shenwan range, &c.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 16th October, 1882.

* See China Sea Directory, Vol. II., pp. 393-4.

+ See Admiralty chart:-Hainan strait No. 876; also China Sea Directory, Vol. II., p. 394. Also Hydrographic Notice No. 13 of 1882.

See China Sea Directory, Vol. II., p. 396, line 17.

See China Sea Directory, Vol. II., p. 400. Also Hydrographic Notice No. 13 of 1882, page 2.

Sue Hydrographic Notice, No. 13 of 1882.