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No. 43.
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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND MARCH, 1878.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Hydrographic Notice, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 2nd March, 1878.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
The information contained in this Notice is to be carefully considered, to be noted in the Sailing Directions, and compared with the Charts when the ship is navigating the locality to which it refers.
Government of India.
HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE. [ No. 8. ]
(Superseding Hydrographic Notice No. 2 of August 1876.)
BAY OF BENGAL-BRITISH BURMA.
The following information, gathered on an inspection tour along the coast of British Burma in 1876, by Commander A. D. Taylor, F.R.G.S., late Indian Navy, Superintendent of Marine Surveys to the Government of India, is reproduced with additions and corrections.
[All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 2° 30′ E. in 1878.]
MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO.*
Navigation of the Mergui Archipelago.--Between Tavoy point and Pakchan river, a distance of nearly 250 miles, there is almost completely sheltered navigation amongst the islands for steamers and small sailing craft. What may be called the beaten track (which will be here described) was frequented by Chinese junks long before Burma became a British possession. Of late years the vessels of the British India Steam Navigation Company have been subsidized to carry the mails from Calcutta to the various ports of British Burma, and onward to Penang. Their officers have begun to furnish notes of their experience, and may be looked upon as the pioneers of navigation in those waters, and of a regular interportal trade along the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal.
"Outside Soundings.-The bank of soundings extends for some distance outside most of the islands, but has not yet been thoroughly examined; near some of them the water is deep, yet their proximity may easily be known by the lead, if kept going in the night. In passing through any of the channels, or inside the islands, a good look-out will be necessary, as some undiscovered dangers may very probably exist.
The Islands of the Mergui Archipelago extend from Tavoy island, in latitude 13° 13′ N., to the Seyer islands in latitude 8° 30′ N., and in some parts they are 70 miles off the mainland. These islands, being usually high, may be seen from 25 to 40 miles. They are covered with large trees, thick underwood difficult to penetrate, and there is scarcely an acre of level ground on any one island fit for cultivation, which may account for their having no inhabitants. A few wandering fishermen of a peculiar race, who live in their boats, are the only perennial residents of the Archipelago. Malays and a few Chinese from about Penang visit certain islands annually to collect edible birds' nests, found more or less in almost every little rocky island. Trepong or Biche de Mer (sea-slug) is an object of search, but it is scarce, there being no extensive coral shoals. The junks or prons from Fenang and the Straits are numerous in the fine season; and doubtless, as the Commissioner of Mergui has no steamier to make inspection tours, the men of these proas will trespass on the rights of those who farm the collection from Government. On the beaches of several islands the marks of deer and hog were seen, also a foot-print, said to be the tiger's; but none of these animals were met with by the surveyors. The islands rest on a rocky basis, and on many of the rocks wholesome oysters abound. On Mainghy island, which lies about 23 miles westward of Mergui harbour, there is abundance of lead ore. There are many small barren rocks amongst the islands of the Archipelago, usually with deep water near them, but few hidden dangers were found by Captain Ross. However, some dangers, which will be described further on, have recently been discovered.
Winds and Weather. The northerly or fair-weather monsoon commences at Mergui about the middle of October, at which time the wind hangs at East, occasionally blowing fresh. In December, about noon the sea-breeze sets in from N. W., veering to North about sunset, and by midnight the wind is from E.N.E. or East, at times blowing strong between sunset and 11 A.M. Therefore, by keeping near the islands, a sailing ship will get rapidly to the northward; whereas, in the offing, the wind is chiefly from N.N.E. to N.N.W. In March the sea-breezes amongst the islands set in from the southward of West, with light winds and calms in the offing; on two occasions, in February and March, the surveying vessels made but 8 or 10 miles per day, having experienced very light weather between Cabossa and cape Negrais with a drain of current to the southward. This southerly set, down the east side of the Bay of Bengal, apparently synchronizes with the northerly set along the Coromandel coast, and the easterly set at the Sandheads and past the Mutlali. In April the afternoon becomes squally with the wind at East, and much thunder and lightning amongst the islands.
The southerly or rainy monsoon sets in about the second week or middle of May, after which the Archipelago is subject to very squally weather for successive days, and a deluge of rain; the rains last till September. Judging of the weather by the log-book of the Nearchus, which vessel was the whole monsoon amongst the islands, it appears that one may easily beat to the southward within the islands, as she frequently experienced the wind from S. E., and had several successive days of Several square- fine weather. Chinese junks are well accustomed to this navigation amongst the islands in smooth water. rigged vessels of light draught used formerly to trade between Penang, Mergui and Tavoy, but they are rapidly being superseded by steamers; their route was usually to the eastward of St. Matthew's, Hastings islands, and up through Forrest strait to the northward, passing to the eastward of Owen islands;t when abreast the middle of Domel island, however, the passage becomes very shallow, being nearly dry all across at low-water springs, with only a narrow creek which lies through sandbanks, on the west side of the channel near the Domel shore. The best route at present known (now called the beaten track) passes to the westward of Domel island and Bushby.
Entering passages.-The soundings amongst the outer islands are so deficient on the Admiralty charts, that it is deemed advisable to warn navigators against adopting any of the central entrance channels from seaward except Forrest passage in If well to the northward or southward of these, it is latitude 11° 5′ N., and Investigator channel in latitude 10° 15′ N.
better only to approach the mainland through the Tavoy channel, which lies between 13° 20′ and 13° 30′ N.; or by passing to the south of Chance island on the parallel of 9° 20′ N.
Recently discovered dangers.—The attention of navigators is drawn to the following dangerous reefs, because no account of them is yet given in any Books of Directions.
* See Admiralty charts:-Mergui Archipelago, No. 216 (a & b).
† Shoal water has been reported about 4 miles to north-eastward of High island, where no soundings are given on the charts.
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