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within 4 cables' lengths of it, as coral patches extend some distance from Ponghou island.

The Plover anchored at about 3 miles northward of Siau head, with Black rock bearing S. by E.E., and the highest part of Ta-tsang

island E. N.; in the bay abreast of her were two runs of good fresh water. In working up for this anchorage, to avoid the coral reefs which extend from the Ponghou shore, do not stand farther eastward than to bring the Black rock S.S.W. The harbour to the northward of this anchorage is much choked with coral patches. There is a passage out to the northward between Fisher island and Pehoe island, and it may be used on an emergency by vessels of 15 feet draught, but a local knowledge is necessary to render it available.

The archipelago, to the northward of Fisher and Pehoe islands, does not afford any inducement for a vessel to enter it. The external dangers therefore will only be noticed.

Tortoise Rock, 9 feet above high water and steep-to, lies about 2 miles from the north-west point of Fisher island, and N. by E.E. 74 miles from the lighthouse. There is a shoal patch of 1 fathom at 6 cables S.E. from the rock, and N.W.IN. from the north-east point of Fisher island.

Sand Island, three-quarters of a mile long north and south, and a quarter of a mile broad, bears N.E. by E.E. 2 miles from the Tortoise rock, and will be known by a hummock which rises on the low land in the centre of the jeland, and also by its yellow appearance; a rock lies off its south-west end, and reefs extend north-westerly 3 cables from its north-west point. At half a mile eastward of this island is a flat black islet, and to the northward of it a cluster of stones, some of which are always above water.

Bird Island bears E.N.E. from Sand island, and a long sandy point, off which is a small sand island, with a house upon it, forms its southern extreme. On the west point is a low hill, connected with the rest of the island by a sandy isthmus.

Shoal water extends 3 miles to the northward from the north point of Bird island; and near its centre is North island, which has a house upon it to shelter the fishermen, and upon a reef half way between them is another house. The northern edge of the shoal water uncovers at low tide, bearing from N.N.W. W. to N.W. from North island distant 1 mile; and from the reef at its west extreme, which is steep-to (for the lead gives no warning), Sand island bears S. by W. From the west point of Bird island to this reef are many reefs, which will be avoided by not bringing Sand island to the westward of S. by W、 until the west point of Bird island bears eastward of E. by S.

Anchorage. Shelter during a north-easterly wind might be found on the west side of Bird island; and from southerly winds, to the northward of the reefs extending from the north point of the island,

N.W. Outlier is a shoal patch of 5 fathoms, lying N. by W.W. from Sand island and West from North island.

Sable Island, bearing S.E. by S. 5 miles from the north-east end of Bird island, is a small islet with a sand patch on its south cliff, and surrounded with rocks. It is nearly connected with the two islands to the southward of it by Iters at low water; the southern island of the two has a large village on it,

Organ and Ragged Islands.—Organ island, bearing S. by E.4E. 3 miles from Sable island, has a reef lying N.E. N. one mile from it, and from which Sable island bears N.W. by N. Ragged island is nearly a mile S.E. by E. from Organ island.

Round and Three Islands.-Leechin point, the eastern extreme of Ponghou, is low and shelving, and at 1 mile eastward of it is Round island, bearing S. by E. E. 3 miles from Ragged island; and S.4E. 1 miles from Round is Three island. N.W. by W. W. from Three, and S.W. from Round island, is a reef which covers at half tide. Between Round and Organ islands are several over falls.

Tides.—It is high water, full and change, in Makung harbour at 10h. 30.; springs rise 9 feet, and neaps 7 feet. The tidal streams among the Pescadores run with great strength, but they are much affected by the prevailing winds." H.M.S. Plover, during the southerly monsoon in August, sometimes experienced a stream of 4 knots per hour on the flood running to the northward; whilst, with the ebb, the current slackened for two and three hours, but seldom ran with any velocity from the northward. Vessels, therefore, navigating in this neighbourhood, may safely allow that the effect of the current and tidal stream® together will set them, according to the prevailing monsoon, 17 miles in one tide. Tide races are common, and overtop with great violence.

Formosa Banks occupy a large space on charts to the south-west of the Pescadores, and as they have not been surveyed, and there is at present no account of them, they should be approached with great caution. They appear to trend in the direction of the Pescadores channel, and to carry 5 to 10 fathoms water. There is, however, probably less water over them, for Captain Livingstone, of the ship Sea Star, of Glasgow, reports that his vessel struck the ground in lat. 23° 19′ N., long. 118° 53′ E., and carried away part of her keel. The depth he considered to be about 15 feet, and High island bore E. S. about 20 miles.*

* Nautical Magazine, p. 54, January 1858.

CHAPTER V.

EAST COAST OF CHINA-WHITE DOG ISLANDS TO NIMROD SOUND. VARIATION 1° 00' to 1° 40' West, in 1861.

River Min.*—The entrance of this river (Min ho) is 83 miles N. W. W. from the anchorage at the White Dogs, and is formed between sandbanks which extend 7 miles from the land, and partly dry at low water. The northern range of banks terminates to the eastward in a detached rocky patch, named Outer Min reef, two peaked heads of which show at the last quarter ebb. The large island of Woufou, 6 miles long east and west, and 4 miles broad, is situated within the entrance, and near its north-east point is the little island of Ho-keang, with its two contiguous islets called the Brothers.

Tides.—It is high water, full and change, at the White Dog islands, at 9h. Om., and springs rise 18 feet; at Temple point, river Min, at 10h. 45m., and springs rise 19 feet, neaps 14 feet; and at Losing island, river Min, it is high

water at noon.

At

Directions. With a 16 feet rise of tide, the best time for entering the Min is from half-flood to half-ebb. The depth is 15 feet on the Outer bar, and 13 feet on the Inner bar, at low water springs. At low water neaps there are 19 feet and 17 feet respectively, and 27 and 25 feet at high water. half-tide, both at springs and neaps, the depth is 21 feet over the Inner bar. When the north sands of the entrance begin to dry, there are scarcely 16 feet on the bar. At low water springs they dry about 3 feet; at neaps they do not show. In fine weather, the North and South breakers appear from half-ebb to half-flood, and the Outer knoll, which has only 7 feet on it, seldom until after the last quarter; but in bad weather a line of breakers extends from the Outer knoll across to the north bank, and a continuous line from the South breakers to Black head.

The first of the flood-tide sets in from the N.E., and, running with great velocity through numerous small channels, and over the north banks inside of Rees rock, sets across the entrance of the river, passing Sharp peak direct for Round island, gradually changing its direction for Ho-keang island as the tide rises. The first of the ebb comes from the direction of Round island, and sets across the Sharp peak entrance over the north banks; as the tide falls, the stream takes the regular channel.

Outside of Rees rock (called Lee-chung by the pilots), the ebb runs strong to the eastward until nearly low water, when it changes its direction to S.E.

The description of this river is by John Richards, Master, R.N., Commanding H.M. Survey. ing vessel Saracen, who re-surveyed it in June, 1854. See Chart of River Min, with Views, No. 2,400; scale, m➡ 1.2 inches.

The flood, now coming from the N.E., turns the stream off to the southward; and near the Outer knoll it runs strong to the S.S.W. for 3 hours, changing its direction to the westward as the tide rises. After half-flood, the stream sets towards Round island, and abates considerably in strength.

At Temple point, on the south side of Woga island, the ebb runs down for nearly 2 hours after it is low water by the shore, and the flood-stream runs for about 1 hour after high water.

Outer Bar.-A vessel bound for the river Min, from the anchorage under the White Dogs, should steer about N.W.‡W. 84 miles for the entrance of the channel, south of the Outer knoll. This is the track in, for the channel north of the Outer knoll is not safe, and should not be attempted by vessels of large draught. If the weather be cloudy, keep the Breakwater rock, off the west end of Tong-sha island, nearly in line with the south point of the Middle Dog, about S.E. by E. High Sharp peak, 1,232 feet high, open southward of Sharp Island peak, 616 feet high, N.W.-W., is a good mark to lead in between the Outer knoll and the South bank,* till Triangle head comes open of the small black rocks off Sand Peak point, W. by S.S., or when the North breakers bear North, then haul up N.W. or N.N.W. (according as ebb or flood is running), and crossing the Outer bar, gain the deep channel to the northward.

Nine Feet Patch.-If intending to pass northward of the Nine Feet patch, Sharp Shoulder should be well open to the northward of Sharp Island peak, known as Pa-chau-me by the natives, before Sand peak, 742 feet high, comes in line with the middle of the black rocks off Sand Peak point, S.W.IS. If passing southward, Sharp Shoulder should be kept a little open to the southward before crossing that line of bearing.

Inner Bar.-When Sand peak appears well open westward of the black rocks off Sand Peak point, Sharp Shoulder may be brought in line with Sharp Island peak, gradually opening the Shoulder to the southward as Serrated peak, 2,028 feet high, comes in one with the south-east extreme of Woufou, S. W. by W. W., which now becomes the leading mark, until the middle of Brother A. islet comes on with the north high extreme of Brother B. bearing N.W. by W. W.; with which mark on, cross the Inner bar, steering a mid-channel course for the river when Round island comes on with the south-east extreme of Woufou, bearing S. W. by S., and taking care to avoid a sunken rock, with only 5 feet on it, lying three-quarters of a cable's length off Woga point. There is good anchorage in 54 fathoms, stiff mud, outside the Inner bar, with Brother B. in line with, or a little open of, Sharp Peak point, and Rees rock in line with Black Head.

Vessels of small draught turning in over the Inner bar, will find the following marks useful: Stand no nearer the north bank than with Temple point in line with Sharp Peak point, nor nearer the south-east side of Ho-keang bank than with Sharp Island peak on with the middle of Sharp Point bluff; nor to the north-east side of Ho-keang bank than to bring the right high extreme of Brother A. in line with the left high extreme of Brother B.

* See views A. and B. on chart.

Six Feet Rock.-To pass to the southward of this rock, which lies in mid-channel off Temple point, or Hok-tau, keep Sharp Island peak open of Woga point. The mud extends westerly a mile from Brother A., and on its northern edge is a patch of rocks, which covers at quarter flood, and from them Brother A. bears E. by S.S., and Temple point N. by E. Sharp Island peak shut in behind the high land of Woga, will lead inside, or northward of the Temple Point rock. In the North-east monsoon, the high land of Woga in line with or a little open of Temple point is a good line to anchor on; in the South-west monsoon Woga creek is the best anchorage.

Kinpai Pass is dangerous to strangers, particularly at or near spring tides, for then the violence of the current produces eddies among the rocks, that occasionally cross the charnel, and render the vessel totally unmanageable, even in a fresh breeze; it therefore should never be taken without a pilot or personal knowledge, and then at slack tide. On the flood, a dangerous eddy extends from Kinpai point above it, in the direction of the Ferry; and for this reason, the passage north of the Middle Ground is considered the best. The Wolverine rock, with 13 feet over it, lies S. W. by W. W. from the north extreme of Kinpai point, and 14 cable from the shore. The Vixen spit, at the eastern end of the Middle Ground, lies S.W. 3 cables from the point, and the distance is about a cable from 14 fathom on its south edge to the southern shore.

After passing White Fort, close with the northern shore, for it is steep-to, and may be approached with safety. The highest part of Pass island in line with White Fort bluff outer extreme is a near clearing mark for the northern shoulder of the Middle Ground. It is recommended to shut Pass island in altogether until past that point, opening it again immediately afterwards.

The danger of this passage is in passing the northern shoulder, which forms a sharp angle of the bank, with only one foot on it at low water springs, and 4 fathoms close-to; from this point to the opposite shore the distance is only 1 cable. After clearing this point, in passing either up or down, the tide will tend rather to set the vessel from the bank into the stream.

The high serrated peak in line with the Ferry-house, S.W., leads through between the Middle Ground and the Quantao shoal, and is a good line for vessels to anchor on when coming down the river, and waiting for an opportunity of dropping through the Pass.

Tongue Shoal.—Passing the Ferry-house on the port hand the Tongue shoal is reached, steep-to, having 7 feet water near its northern extreme. This part is cleared by keeping the Ferry house midway between Kinpaì bluff and the tower, until the highest point of Kowlui head comes in line with Half-tide rock, seen ahead. Between Half-tide rock and Tintao, also ahead, the bottom is very irregular.

Mingan

Pass.-Proceeding upwards, the river narrows at the Mingan Pass. About three-quarters of a mile above Mingan, and on the same side of the river, is Couding island, off the east point of which H.M.S. Scout grounded on a rock at the end of a ledge projecting 25 yards from the islet, with 7 feet near its extreme.

At the upper or south end of the gorge are two islets, Spiteful and Flat

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