THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH JULY, 1878.
337
Boom-Boom Haven, about 5 miles long in a north-east and south-west direction, and one mile broad, with 9 to 12 fathoms, mud bottom, is protected from seaward by Boom-Boom islands and reef, which form the south-east side of the haven. The entrance to Boom-Boom haven is one mile wide, but the navigable channel is contracted to half a mile by the reefs extending from Hornat point (north-west entrance point), which is thickly wooded and of a dark green colour. About 2 miles within the entrance, the haven is narrowed to 6 cables by a small reef with deep water close around, abreast Timbu-Mata.
Sandakan harbour.-H.M.S. Swinger, 1877, obtained 11 feet at low water on the south-west part of the bank situated one mile E. by S. from Pulo Button, Sandakan harbour, N.E. coast of Borneo; 18 feet was the least water formerly supposed to exist on this bank. *
SULU SEA.†
Reefs and Shoals. The Master of the German ship Minna, 1877, reports two coral reefs (Minna reefs) with 3 feet water on each, and 9 feet between; these reefs are 3 miles apart S.E. E. and N.W. W. from each other. The position of the N.W. reef is given in lat. 6° 58′ N., long, 117° 36′ E., and the S.E. reef lat. 6° 56′ N., long. 117° 38′ E.
Also, that
in lat. 6° 49′ N., long. 117° 52′ E., a reef (Schuck reef) with 31⁄2 fathoms, and 6 to? fathoms around it, was found, extending one mile in an east and west direction. ‡
A shoal, with apparently about 12 feet water in lat. 6° 46' N., long. 117° 47' E. (approximate), was observed from the Erzherzog Friedrich; also discoloured water in lat. 5° 37' N., long, 110° 15′ E. (approximate).
Pearl Bank-The opening, leading into the lagoon formed by the coral reef on Pearl bank, has a bar extending across it with 9 to 13 feet water.
Siassi and Lapac Islands.-The Imperial German Ship Elisabeth, Captain Von Wiekede, obtained good anchorage in 11 fathoms, in the channel between Siassi and Lapac islands, abreast a house almost hidden by trees, on Siassi island. The southern portion of this channel, which lies between the coral reefs extending from these islands, is one cable wide, with depths of 6 to 9 feet on the bar at the south entrance, where it is only half a cable wide; but from an examination by Captain Schick, in the German schooner Minna, 1876, there appears to be 64 fathoms in the southern entrance of the channel.il
Coral patches. The Swinger, while steering to the eastward, about 2 miles north of Siassi island, obtained soundings of 4 fathoms on a coral patch for a distance of about half a mile, when the following bearings were taken, namely,-East extreme of Manubol island S. W., and north extreme of Tara island E. by S. Į S.
This patch is said to have 18 feet least water, to be one mile long north and south, and three-quarters of a mile broad. East extreme of Manubol island seen just opon east of Lapac island, bearing S. W., leads to the westward, and north extreme of Bubuan island shut in with Lapac island S.W. by W., leads to the southward of this patch.
A patch, about 3 cables in extent, awash at half tide, with deep water around it, lies 14 miles S. E. from Tara island. A patch of 3 fathoms, one mile long east and west, and half a mile broad, lies 13 miles E.S.E. from Tara island. Sulu Island. The town of Sulu, mentioned in Hydrographic Notices, No. 7 of 1868, and No. 8 of 1872, has been destroyed (1876).¶
Anchorage.-H.M.S. Egeria anchored off Sulu in 12 fathoms, sand and mud, with point Daingapic bearing N.E. by N.; flagstaff on fort S.E.; and a pier in course of construction (1876) S. by E. E., the holding ground in this position was said to be bad.
A Spanish gun boat was anchored in 9 fathoms, good holding ground, 2 cables south of Egeria.
Maimbun
the bottom,
The ro
shoal (Batol
Pulo distance of 4
the south-west side of Sulu island is much used as an anchorage during the north-east monsoons; ppears to be studded with loose coral. ||
The
i es south from point Cabalian (the
ash high water was seen from
the
Spr
entrance point of Mainbun bay), is said not to exist.
nger, at half a mile E.S.E. from point Cabalian.‡‡ FLORES SEA.
of H.N.M.S. Soerabnya, 1877, reports that he observed discoloured water at a the east side of Pulo Saleiyer, in lat 6° 1' S., longitude 120° 38′ E. (approximate).
BANDA SEA.§§
Caton island, discovered by Captain Massicot, commar between St. Matthew and Velthoen island, west entrance to Caton island is about 3 miles in extent, thickly woode
ing shore.
ling the French vessel Caton, 1877, is situated about midway
da sea, in lat. 5° 40′ S., long. 124° 30′ E. (approximatel
apparently surrounded by reef extending 2 miles flu the
of al CELEBES ISLAND.¶¶
Mount Sodyolo, in the north-west part of Celebes island, has three peaks, the northernmost and highest being 7,600 feet high.
GILLOLO PASSAGE.***
Boe Islands.-The rock on which the American barque Agate is said to have struck in January 1877, at 4 miles south-east of the easternmost Boe island (east side of Gillolo passage), was unsuccessfully searched for by Commander A. S. Barker, U.S.S. Alert, 1877. Several lines of soundings were run over the reported position of this rock, and although the weather was particularly favourable no indication of a rock could be seen. Strong tide rips however, giving the water the appearance of being broken by dangerous shoals, were seen over and near the spot; these were examined, the vessel steaming through them.
A coral reef, having 6 feet to 5 fathoms water, was found to extend 14 miles in: east point of the easternmost Boe island; near the extremity of the reef in 12 and 14 fath on the north side of the reef anchorage can be obtained in 12 or 13 fathoms water, but
Approaching this anchorage, when within 2 miles of it, the S.E. point of the westward of W.S.W.
See Admiralty plan:-Sandakin harbour, No. 950 and Hydrographic Notice, No. 28 of 1875.
2
asterly direction from the south-
a strong tide rip was observed; osed to north-easterly winds. land must not be brought to bear
+ See Admiralty charts:-Sulu archipelago, No. 2576; Palawan island, No. 967; Siboyé and Sibutu passages, No. 928; and Philippine islands,
No. 943: also, Hydrographic Notices, Nos. 7 of 1868; 8 of 1872: 4 of 1873; and 26 of 1875.
Nachrichten für Seefahrer, No. 7 of 1878.
United States Hydrographic Notice No, 48 of 1877.
Navigating Sub-Lieutenant H. B. Hawkshaw, H.M.S. Swinger, 1877.
Navigating Lieutenant W.H. Stephens. H.M.S. Eyeria, 1876.
** Adapted to a Spanish Government survey, 1874.
Navigating Sub-Lieutenant Hawkshaw, 1877.
See Admiralty chart:-Eastern archipelago, western portion, No. 941 b. Beright aan Zeevaranden, No. 15 of 1877.
$$ See Admiralty chart:-Eastern archipelago, eastern portion, No. 942 a. Annales Hydrographiques, No. 567 of 1876.
11 See Admiralty charts:--Eastern archipelago, sheet 3, No. 942 a; and Strait of Macassar, north part, No. 2636. Voyage of Erzherzog Friedrich, 1875.
*** See Admiralty chart:-Eastern archipelago, No. 912 b.
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