717161-1864-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-158 — Page 1

MON

THE HONGKONG

Government Gazette.

Published by Authority.

No. 42.

VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 15TH OCTOBER, 1864.

VOL. X.

No. 158.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Observations respecting the Port of Iloilo, received from Her Majesty's Consul at Manila, are published for general information.

By Order,

W. H. RENNIE,

for the Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th October, 1864.

PORT ILOILO, PANAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE NAVIGATION OF THE COAST AND PORT OF ILOILO, ISLAND of Panay, BY NICOLAS LONEY, ESQ., HER MAJESTY'S VICE CONSUL,

Vessels bound from Manila, or from ports to the Northwards, may, during the N. E. monsoon, safely proceed towards Iloilo by the Maricaban passage between Luzon and Mindoro and through the chain of islands off the N. E. coast of Panay. For this route, the charts of the Spanish "Comision Hidrografica," compiled by Don Claudio Montero in 1857, would be useful. After passing Tablas and Romblon (which latter island possesses an excellent harbour much frequented by coasting vessels as a port of refuge and for obtaining supplies,) steer for the group of small islands, called collectively the "Silanga, lying off the N. E. of Panay, a good mark for which is the high conical island called Pan de Azucar, or Sugar-loaf, which is visible from a great distance. In approaching these islands during the N. E. monsoon, vessels should pass between the islets of Jintotolo and Zapato-mayor, and during the S. W. monsoon more in towards the Panay shore, between Olutaya and Zapato-menor. After leaving the Zapatos, the course is to the south of the Gigantes, and the channel through the group of islands is generally entered between Sicogon and Calagnan, from whence the route is continued between Culebra and the main, Pan de Azucar and Malangaban, inside Ygbon, Bulubadiangan and Tagulanban islands. Throughout the passage between these islands there is safe anchorage. The Estancia affords excellent anchorage and shelter at all times, and at Apiton, opposite Yagubanhan, there is also good anchorage in both monsoons. In the S. W. monsoon there is safe anchorage between Pan de Azucar and Sombrero islands, and in the bay of Malagabones. In the N. E. monsoon in addition to the Estancia and Apiton, there is good anchorage under Pan de Azucar, in the small bay or indent looking S. E. At Bacauan, or La Concepcion, is the residence of the Commandant of the district, and from hence assistance and supplies may be had, if needed, and at the place marked Apiton (Aguada) on the charts, good water is easily obtainable.

The broader channel between the islands, Panay and Negros, although apparently good, and though formerly adopted by several ships bound to Iloilo, is now found not to be safe, there being large patches of shoal water, with coral, imperfectly surveyed, extending off the Bantayan and Negros shore. Vessels have occasionally touched in coming through this passage, and it should not therefore be taken.

After passing Tagubanhan and Apiton, and emerging into the broad channel between Panay and Negros, the best course is to steer direct for the highest land visible on the island of Guimaras, care being taken to clear the Pepitas rocks, which lie some distance off the shore and are awash.

Leaving the Calabazas islets and Pepitas, the route, after making the small block house near Banate, is due South until a group of seven remarkable rocks which lie between the N. F. end of Guimaras and Panay shore, called the Siete Pecados, are sighted. On opening the channel betwen Guimaras and Panay and getting the Siete Pecados to bear W. N., steer direct for them, passing between these rocks and the Panay hore. This course will clear the Iguana Bank, lying to the S. E. of the Pecados, with 1 to 2 fathoms of water on it and Point Dumangas to the N. E., the shoal water offwhich extends to a con-

siderable distance.

The lead is good guide through the Siete Pecados channel, giving 6, 43, 7, 8, 11 and 15 fathoms until the Pecados are passed to the Southward, when the water decpens to 18 and 19 fathoms. The channel between these rocks and Guimaras is not good. On passing the Pecados, the south shore should be kept on board, to avoid the shoal water on the Panay side. When the fort, which is half a mile to the west of the entrance of the river Iloilo, bears W. S. W., steer for it, anchoring as convenient in 10 to 12 fathoms, a little more than 4 of a mile off shore, to the Eastward of the river.