1018 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH NOVEMBER, 1881.
Tuneu river is shallow, and discharges itself about 4 miles to the westward of Tolibas. Near its mouth, a shoal bank runs off shore, depending suddenly.
Bagahac peak rises near the central part of the Tanjong Unsang peninsula, in a long slope, about 5 miles north- westward of the Tuneu river.
DARVEL BAY, on the south side of Tanjong Unsang peninsula contains numerous coral reefs, especially on the south side, which when the sun is up may generally be seen from a vessel's deck.
Silam anchorage, in the western part of Darvel bay under mount Bud Silam, is between two reefs which partially dry, but have a narrow, deep passage between them. The Egeria anchored about 14 miles off the village in 11 fathoms.
Three reefs were found by H.M.S. Moorhen in the western part of Darvel bay, 2 miles E. by S. & S. of the mouth of Divatu river. These reefs which break at low water lie in an E.Ñ.E. and W.S.W. direction, and are about a quarter of a mile apart.
Directions.-Vessels visiting Divatu, should bring Saddle island to bear North, and then steer for the northern of the two small islands on a W. by N. & N. bearing. Care should be taken to have the sun in the right position for seeing the reefs, which abound in this part of Darvel bay.
TIMBU MATA ISLAND, in the southern part of Darvel bay, is separated from the main land by a sound carrying deep water for about 5 miles up from its southern end; this island, and that of Pulo Gaya form the two most. conspicuous objects on this coast.
Grassy point, forming the south point of Timbu Mata island, is formed by the spur of a hill running down to the water in a north and south direction. Near the water's edge it is fringed with trees, and there are a few on the upper part of the ridge, which otherwise is covered with grass; it is easy to distinguish, being the only comparatively cleared ridge in the neighbourhood.
Gunong Culi Babang is the eastern summit of Timbu Mata island.
PULO GAYA, composed of three islands, shows as a long hill, the two outside islands of which have remarkable conical peaks, and the outline of the centre island is also striking. From the north part of Sibocu bay, Pulo Gaya and Pulo Gaya is Timbu Mata island, both of which are thickly wooded, show over the low islands to the southward of them. surrounded by reefs, through which there are many passages. To approach the village on its south side, a passage will be found in round the west point, nothing less than fathoms being found in it by the boat of the Egeria.
Pulo Culi Babang, Boom Boom, and Omadal, are three low, flat, wooded islands.
EGERIA PASSAGE.-To the northward of Omadal is an extensive reef, impassable for a large boat; between this reef and the island is a deep channel, continuing between Omadal and Boom Boom islands, and for about 3 miles to the westward, turning to the southward for 3 miles between two reefs, the passage varying in width from 150 to 400 yards. No native name being known for this channel, it was called after II.M.S. Egeria.
ST. LUCIA BAY.-Discoloured water with ripplings was observed by H.M. Netherlands ship Oenarang, December 18th 1879 in St. Lucia bay. At the distance of 3 cables East of this discoloured water the following were the bearings -
South point of Sebatie
North do.
do.
Kokosan hill.
Batu Tinagat
N. 83o W.
N. 53° W.
.N. 42° W.
N. 26° W.
A small islet with a few shrubs on it lies in latitude 4° 12 N., longitude 118° 54′ E. From it, Si Amil island bears N. 5° W. Reefs extend 4 or 5 miles from this islet in an easterly direction, and it appears to be connected by a reef to Si Amil; this reef is dangerous, as there are no symptoms except breakers about one mile eastward of the islet.
SIBUCO RIVER? appears to be large and important; its northern entrance point (Large Rock) is in latitude 4o 14 N., longitude 117° 58′ E. Near the flag staff, on the north shore of the river, a small coal depôt has been established by the Dutch for the use of their men-of-war.
At
Batu Tinagat is a small mushroom-shaped rock, rising from the sea off the north point of the entrance to the Sibuco river. It is about 12 or 15 feet high, and has a few bushes on it. From Batu Tinagat the river trends back a little to the northward of west, and about 5 miles from the entrance, the small river Tawas discharges its waters into the Sibocu. the entrance of the Tawas river, on the south bank, the Dutch have hoisted their boundary flag. The Sibocu river is here about 4 miles in width, with a deep channel of 8 or 10 fathoms.
Batu Tinagat point was found to be in latitude 4° 14′ N., longitude 117° 59′ E.; this is the north entrance point of the Sibocu river, which here appeared to be about 5 miles across.
From Batu Tinagat point, the five fathom line extends in a south-easterly direction for about 7 miles, and a reef extends off a point south of the entrance to the Sibuco river, in latitude 4° 0' N., longitude 117° 55′ E. for a distance of 81
miles.
Leading mark. By steering in, with a cone shaped hill, about 500 feet high, bearing N. 42° W., 9 to 12 fathoms of water may be carried up to the anchorage, which is half a mile southward of the Dutch flag ship, moored near the north shore of the river.
A shoal, about 200 yards in extent, having generally about 24 fathoms over it, but with two shoal heads of only one fathom at low water, 50 yards apart and near its centre, was found by the Egeria. From it the following bearings were taken :-
Batu Tinagat point Saddle hill Silungan island
S. 86° W.
N. 37° W. ... N. 62° E.
Making the Land from the eastward, Sipadan island should not be brought to bear southward of W. S., owing to the extent of the unexamined reefs to the northward. The reefs do not appear to extend further south of Sipadan island than is marked upon the chart.
Making the Sibuco river.-Vessels wishing to enter the Sibuco river should make it on a N.W. bearing, in order to avoid the shoal water extending from Batu Tinagat point, but taking care not to get too far to the southward, as dangers are suspected in that direction. Seaward of Batu Tinagat, northward of a N.W. bearing, the bottom appears to shoal gradually.
Berigh aan Zeevarenden, No. 7, the Hague, 14th February 1880.
The Sibuco river is apparently devoid of a bar, and being capable of admitting the largest ships, is likely to prove of commercial import- ance. (From Remarks of Commander C. Johnstone, H.M.S. Egeria, 1880.)
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