DROIT
THE HONGKONG
Government Gazette.
Published by Authority.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 27TH OCTOBER, 1860.
VOL. VI.
No. 43.
No. 111.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
At the request of the Government of Ceylon the following Notice of Dangers in the vicinity of the Basses is published for the information of Mariners.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 22nd October, 1860.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor has directed the following Report of Dangers discovered in the vicinity of the Basses, between the line of those Reefs and the Mainland, received from Mr. McDougall, Master, R.N., in charge of the Survey of the South-East Coast of Ceylon, to be published for general information.
By His Excellency's Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, September 17th, 1860.
W. C. GIBSON, Acting Colonial Secretary.
GALLE, 12th September, 1860.
Little Basses tail, is half a mile in length, with only 3 fathoms on it. It lies N. by W. 13 miles from the Little Basses reef. This patch is supposed to be the one on which the Ship Atlas struck the first time in 1813 (vide Horsburgh, page 563.) Atlas reef, with only 3 fathoms, is about a cable's length in extent, N. E. by N. 1 miles from the Little Basses reef, and is supposed to be the danger on which the Atlas struck the second time, in 1813. Between it and the Little Basses tail, anchorage for a light vessel may be obtained in 6 fathoms, sand and stones, with the centre of the Little Basses reef bearing S. W. a mile. The reef breaks heavily.
Daedalus reef. This dangerous patch was discovered by H. M. S. Cyclops striking on it, on the 30th July last; it is pro- bably the one on which H. M. Ship Dadalus was lost in 1813, (Horsburgh 562.) The Cyclops, drawing 15 feet, went from 6 fathoms on to the rock, and for several minutes struck heavily, lifting her rudder twice.
The least water obtained all round the Ship was 3 fathoms. The rock is evidently a pinnacle, with about 14 feet on it, and having 5, 6, and 7 fathoms close to-(no sign of a break was observed at the time the Ship struck.) From it the centre of the Little Basses bears S. 25° E. 34 miles; Chimney Hill N. 56° W., and Nipple Peak N. 75° W.-it is distant from the nearest shore 1 miles.
Cyclops reef--so called in consequence of the Cyclops striking several times, and in different places-consists of a hard narrow sandy ridge, with patches of boulders, having only 2 fathoms in some places. It lies E. by N. N. and W. by S. S. for a distance of 33 miles, and is from to a mile in breadth. From its West end in 3 fathoms, Potana point bears North 2 miles; and from its Eastern end in 4 fathoms, Chimney Hill bears N. W., the shore in that direction being distant 3 miles. Between the reef and the shore is a channel with 7, 9, and 12 fathoms.
Breakers are occasionally seen on shoal patches of this reef.
Potana Patch-breaks very heavily, and appears to be about of a mile in extent. It lies W. by S. & S. from the West end of Cyclops reef, the distance being 13 miles, forming a clear channel with from 8 to 10 fathoms. To sail through, keep Chimney Hill on with the Eastern slope of Potana point bearing N. by E. E.
Elephant reef—also breaks heavily, and lies N. E. E. and S. W. W., 14 miles long; its N. E. end being 1 mile from Potana patch. This supposed channel has, however, never been sounded, and should not therefore be tried. The N. E. end is 1 miles from the shore, with Elephant Hill, and Elephant Rock in line, N. W. N. The S. W. extremity is 1 mile S. W. W. of the detached rock off Anadowe point. Between the reef and the shore is a clear channel, with from 8 to 9 fathoms, but should never be attempted by strangers, as the Coast permits of no leading or back mark being given.
Masters of Ships, under any and every circumstance, should carefully avoid attempting to pass inside the line of the Great
and Little Basses.
The foregoing bearings are Magnetic.
The current during the S. W. Monsoon, sets along the line of Coast, between Point de Galle and the Little Basses, to the East and N. E., at rates varying from 1 to 2 miles per hour.
G. F. MCDOUGALL, Master, R. N., in charge of Ceylon Survey.
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Great Basses, Latitude 6° 9′ 54′′ N. and 1° 15′ 30′′ East of Galle. Little Basses,
6° 22′ 48′′ N. and 1° 30′ 50′′
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