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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND MARCH, 1878.
Bentinck route.-Passing about half a mile west of Passage island, steer towards Christmas island, about S. W. by S., so as to leave Round and Cantor's island respectively about one mile to the westward. Pass about 2 miles to the westward of Christmas island, then steer for West Passage island, between which and the little islet crowned with a tuft of trees (which is aptly called Cap and Feather) lies the fair channel to the southward.
Borrow on the West Passage island, where there are depths of 5 or 6 fathoms (low water), but towards Cap and Feather the water shoals to 3 and 2 fathoms. Pass the West Passage at not less than 2 cables' distance and the south Passage island at half a mile. From South Passage island steer S. by W. for 10 miles to clear the south end of Bentinck island, then about S. S. W. for the purpose of clearing Fly rock lying 3 miles to the north-west of Fly island. When near Maria island, steer more southerly, passing midway between Bushby island and the group called the Five Sisters. Being 3 miles to the west of Bushby island, steer to pass between High island and Sullivan's. On this course the flood stream will set to the eastward, and therefore the time of tide must be calculated and some allowance must be made for the tidal stream.
Anchorages.--On a dark rainy night of the south-west monsoon, a steamer, coming from northward, might conviniently and prudently anchor till day-break to leeward of the Great Bentinck island in 6 or 7 fathoms, or about 2 miles eastward of the South Passage island.
When going northward from Pakchan, advantage may, on similar occasions be taken of the good anchorage in Forrest strait to leeward of Sullivan's and to southward of High island, when there are depths of 7 to 9 fathoms.
Forrest Strait towards Pakchan.--The Gregorys are five low-level tree islands, on a white sandy base. The little North Gregory is 18 miles to the southward of High island, and a vessel should pass to the eastward of all the Gregorys.
Boyce shoal.-The British India Steam Navigation Company's steamer Madras passed over a small shoal (Boyce shoal), on which there were 2 fathoms (reduced to low water). It lies between Boyce hill and the main body of the Gregorys, and there is a space of little more than 2 miles between the latter and the shoal. Caution is necessary, and it is prudent to borrow towards the Gregory's.
Kurrachee rock. This dangerous sunk rock, which is a pinnacle, with only 5 feet at lowest tide, on which the British India Steam Navigation Company's steamer of that name was totally lost in 1877, lies E. by S. S. distant 12 miles from the large or Eastern Gregory. There is deep water close to, 16 fathoms being found about 100 yards off.
Beyond the Kurrachee rock and the Gregorys a straight southerly run of about 25 miles puts the vessel about 2 or 3 miles to the eastward of the Five islands, from which position haul up to S. by W., or perhaps more westerly to avoid the extensive flat of sand and mud lying off the entrance to Pakchan river.
Pakchan River.-Maliwoon is a small town famous for its tin mines on the British side of this river, about 25 miles from the entrance, up a creek situated amongst the high hills of Maliwoon. The British India Steam Navigation Company's steamers carry on a monthly mail service from Rangoon, Moulmein and Mergui to this place. They sometimes go up the river, and about 5 miles up Maliwoon creek, where they are still 7 miles below the town. Sometimes they anchor off the mouth of Rehnoung creek on the Siam side, as there is some slight trade with that place.
Entrance to Pakchan river.--Coming from northward, do not shoal the water towards the flat under 7 or 8 fathoms, till the open sea is visible between Hastings island on the one side, and the islands of St. Luke and St. Matthew on the other side. Then haul round to the south-east towards Saddle island, and run in about East with a small round island just touching the sloping south extreme (angle of 45°) of Boundary island, which has a barnlike appearance, and stands nearly 2 miles seaward of Victoria_island. This course leads towards Boundary island and in not less than 5 fathoms at low water. Proceeding eastward, Victoria Point (the southern reddish termination of the Maliwoon hills, on which the tree have lately been thinned and cut down) will be made out; keep it just touching the northwest tip of Victoria island, steering exactly on that line (3 fathoms at low-water springs may be had when abreast of Boundary island) till within a quarter of a mile of Victoria, when haul a little northerly to pass the island at about one cable from a small islet off its north side.
Reef-Between Long island and Victoria island, there is a reef of rocks, which uncover only at low water, but the passage just described is fully one mile wide. There is said to be a good passage into the river to the north of these rocks, but shoal water apparently extends over 3 miles to W. S. W. of them.
Another entrance to Pakchan river is adopted by some Chinese pilots. The approach is between Spiteful rock (which is really a good-sized round island) and Harry's head, the north-west point of Saddle island; but caution is necessary, as the shoal bank westward of Spiteful rock is unexamined. Approaching from the southward, borrow on Tree island to avoid that bank. Steer from Spiteful on an easterly course to Stainer rock; when 3 cables from that rock, haul up E. N. E. for one mile, then N. E. and N. N. E. so as to pass within 2 cable lengths of Dyke's and two round islets beyond. When the east point of Victoria island is visible, steer for it and pass it also about 2 cables off; then, if bound to Relinoung, keep away to N. E. and E. N. E., and anchor in 4 fathoms, low water, to southward of the small rocky islet as follows.
Anchorage off Relindung.-Having entered the river between Victoria point and island, steer to the eastward, when the mouth of the Rehnoung creek will be visible, and anchor in 4 fathoms low water, with a little rocky islet bearing N. E. by N., 2 cables distant, and Victoria point N. W. by W. W., Long island being visible through the opening of the river, and the high peak of St. Matthew's island just over the north point of Victoria island. At this anchorage the outline of the bank that dries at low-water springs will be visible to the south and south-east of the vessel. The bottom is stiff clay, good hold- ing ground.
The southern entrance to Pakchan river and Rehnoung has been described. This route lies to the north of Salille island, passing between it and the Spiteful rock; it then runs to the southward and eastward of Mostyn, Dyke, and Festing islands, and hauls up close along the east shore of Victoria island, where there is deep water.
Tides.It is high water at F. and C. of the moon at the entrance of Pakchan river at 10 hours 30 minutes; the rise of tide is about 14 feet at springs, and 8 feet at neaps. The ebb tide, rushing out of the Pakchan river, splits at the north-east point of Victoria island and bifurcates to the west and to the south, both streams being rapid at spring tides in both entrance channels.
The Coast below Pakchan river is quite unexamined, and should not be approached without a pilot. Kopah river entrance was formerly supposed to be only 20 miles southward of Rehnoung, but it is double that distance. The boundary between 3ritish Burma and Siam is supposed to run through Mostyn, Saddle and De Lisle islands, but these islands and the adjacent aters are not surveyed. The Sugar loaves are good landmarks, and the Round or Funnel mountain on the mainland, which
18 miles southward of Rehnoung, is a magnificent peak.
Richelieu rock-This is a danger recently discovered by Captain A. De Richelien, of the Siamese Royal Navy; it lies niles due west from Hayes' island. The discovery of such a rock points to the necessity of navigating these waters with
me caution.
Kopah River, in the province called Muang Takuapah, belongs to Siam, and is becoming of importance on account of trade; its position was not shewn on any chart until the year 1876. The river has two entrances, the northern being t for the south-west monsoon, but during the fine season a great saving of time and fuel may be made by adopting the a entrance. This latter was made mention of in Horsburgh's Directory as Bangri, properly Bang-yee, which is the fa town inside the Quoin hill. Several small junks trade between Kopah, Junkseylon, and Penang.
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