Norton Rock, about 50 feet high, with a rock awash half a mile to the westward of it, lies East 6 miles from the Tessara islands.

White Island.-At 74 miles to the northward of the Tessara is the southernmost of a group of rocks and shoals, which extend hence all the way to Sand peak. Junks anchor under the largest, named White island, but there is almost always a heavy ground swell setting into this bay. A sandy beach extends from the Cow's Horn to Sand peak, a distance of 16 miles, and a vessel may stand towards it until the group just described is reached, which it will be advisable to keep outside of, taking care to avoid a rock lying 9 cables eastward of White island.

Sand Peak.-Under Sand peak the banks at the entrance of the river Min commence; 3 fathoms will be found at 2 miles from the shore, and boats may find their way into the Min by the channel between Sand peak and Woufou island, but the navigation even for them is difficult, and entirely impracticable to any but of such light draught as can go over sands that dry at low water. This, however, when the tide will admit, will be found the best channel for a vessel lying at the White Dogs to communicate with Fuhchau. There is a large fishing establishment under Sand peak.

Turnabout Island, Niu-shan, or Goo-san 4, lying E.S.E. about

1

lies

4 miles from Hae head, is in lat. 25° 26' N., long 119° 58′ 42′′ E.; there are two small islets off it. A sunken rock, on which the sea breaks occasionally, 2 cables to the northward of the island.

White Dog Islands (Pih-kiuen É

or Pih-kau

both names

meaning White Dogs) bear N.N.E. 23 miles from the peak of the Kiangshan hills on Hai-tan island, and N.E. N. 15 miles from Norton rock. They consist of two large and one smaller islet, named Middle Dog, South Dog, and Tong-sha island.*

Tong-sha, the western island, and the largest of the group, has a reef of rocks running off its western extreme, terminated by a square islet called the Breakwater; and a half-tide rock lies a cable's length from the western point of Village bay, on the south side of the island. is flat-topped, and 590 feet above the sea. small quantities.

The highest part of the island Fresh water may be obtained in

Rocks and reefs extend both northerly and westerly from the Middle Dog, but the outer ones always show; a rock on which the sea generally breaks lies N.E. by E.E. 1 mile from its north-east point.

The channel between the Middle Dog and Tong-sha is safe. The islands are inhabited by a few fishermen, and are occasionally visited by pirates.

Anchorage in the North-east monsoon, for vessels of any draught, will be found under Tong-sha island. Small vessels will find good shelter in 18 feet, close under the Breakwater, and here whole fleets of Chinese junks remain during foul weather. As the water decreases gradually towards Tong-sha, vessels of greater draught may approach as convenient, bearing in mind that the rise and fall is 18 feet.

* See Chart of River Min, with views, No. 2,400; scale, m = L2 inches.

Directions. The passage from Lam-yit to the White Dog islands may be considered as the most difficult portion of the coast that a vessel has to contend with in the North-east monsoon, and it is believed there are few men who know the coast of China but will allow that Turnabout island is well named. The attempt of the flood to force its way through Hai-tan strait forces the water back, and occasions a strong current off Kwing bay, at the north-east end of Hai-tan. It is a great misfortune that this bay does not afford shelter, as it would prove an uncommonly good half. way house; it is, however, one of the worst places on the coast of China the Plover dropt anchor in, being full of rocks, with a heavy swell. Sailing vessels have, therefore, no alternative but to stand boldly off, and trust to a slant on the Formosa side, or to take the Hai-tan strait. The open sea is, however, preferable, notwithstanding that some vessels have got successfully through the strait; yet it requires local knowledge and a handy vessel to prevent great detention.

PESCADORES ISLANDS.

archipelago consist of twenty-one extend from lat. 23° 11′ to 23° 47′ From their basaltic formation the

The Pescadores or Ponghou inhabited islands, besides several rocks, and N., and from long. 119° 16' to 119° 40′ E. land is generally flat, and no part of the group is 300 feet above the level of the sea. The two largest islands, named Ponghou and Fisher, lie near the centre of the archipelago, and between them is an extensive and excellent harbour. The general depth of water on the western side of the archipelago is 30 and 35 fathoms; there are, however, some places where there are 60 fathoms. To the eastward of the group the depth is 40 fathoms, and the current strong.*

Junk Island, the southernmost island of the Pescadores, is 2 miles long, east and west, and 13 mile wide; the depths of water in its vicinity being 15 and 16 fathoms. The highest part of the island is 260 feet above the sea, and from it High island bears N. W. N. 83 miles, Reef island N.E. by E. 51 miles, and East island E. by N. 13 miles. A reef of rocks extends 6 cables from its south-west side, and within them is a small artificial harbour for junks. Its eastern face is fronted by bold cliffs; and its western extreme is a long shelving point.

Reef Islands are three in number, one of which, Steeple island, is a remarkable pyramid. The other two are rather more than a mile each in circumference, and are connected at low water by a stony ledge; reefs extend half a mile to the southward of them, and South from the west end of the eastern island is a pyramidal rock rising 80 feet above the sea. There is also a low flat rock, nearly level with the water's edge, lying S.W. by S. 12 mile, and a small peaked rock, with a reef, to the northward of it, lying S.E. 2 miles from the east end of this island.

East Island is 8 miles to the eastward of the Reef island, and between them,

• See Chart of Pescadores Island, No. 1,961; scale, m 0.8 of an inch.

and distant 5 miles from the latter, is a smaller island, named Pe-ting, 1 mile in circumference, with a reef extending in an easterly direction, not quite a mile from its north point. East island is 24 miles in circumference, and has a small islet lying half a mile from its north-western shore.

Nine-feet Reef lies N. by E.E. 12 miles from the north end of East island, and from it Dome hill, on Ponghou island, bears W. by N.§N. 10 miles, and Three island N.N.W.4W., 4 miles. The lead gives no warning; but if there is any tide, the ripple will be sufficient to point out its position.

Rover Group consists of two large islands, Pa-chau and Tsiang, and several rocks, and are sufficiently extensive to afford shelter under their lee in either monsoon. The general depth is 7 and 8 fathoms on the southern, and 13 and 14 fathoms on the northern shore. From the highest part of the group, the lighthouse on the south-west point of Fisher island bears N. by W. 10 miles.

Pa-chau, the western island, is 24 miles long, north and south, and a mile broad, and its summit, which is near the eastern shore, rises like a dome with a large pile upon it. S.W.W. 21% miles from the summit is the end of a reef extending in a westerly direction from the south point of the island, and part of it shows at all times of tide. There is also a reef which covers at high water, bearing W. by S. 38. from the summit, and lying 2 cables from the shore. The north-west point of the island is not steep-to; and a rock, which always shows, lies off the north-east point, having a channel 4 cables wide between it and the point.

Tsiang, the eastern island, is only 1 mile long N.E. and S.W., and about 1 mile broad, and the channel between it and Pa-chau is barely a cable wide. The east point of this island is remarkable from an isolated cliff, called Rover Knob, 100 feet high, which forms the most striking feature in the group; at 7 cables eastward of the cliff is a ledge of rocks, part of which are always above water.

Directions. The channel between the Rover group being so narrow and intricate, the only excuse for a stranger using it would be his vessel being caught at anchor to the northward of the group in a breeze from the northward, and unable to fetch clear either eastward or westward. On the north-west face of Tsiang are two islets, under the southern of which a small vessel might find shelter in a northerly wind, taking the precaution not to stand too far into the bay, as there are only 6 feet water at 2 cables from the shore. On the west end of the island, which is a cliff, are three embrasures.

In the centre of the southern part of the channel is a small rock with a reef extending southerly half a mile from it, The passage out is to the eastward of this rock, and the channel is a quarter of a mile wide. E. by S. 44 cables from the small rock is a reef which may always be detected from the mast head, as well as two other patches lying respectively 4 and 7 cables to the eastward of it.

High Island, bearing W. by S. S. 9 miles from the highest part of Pa-chau, is dome-shaped, 247 feet high, and three-quarters of a mile in circumference. At one mile to the eastward of it is a low flat island, and between the two are several rocks, one of which has a remarkable gap in it, and rises 60 feet above

the sea. A rock, nearly level with the water's edge, lies S.E.E. 1 mile from the summit of High island.

Yih-pan Island, 158 feet high, 2 miles in circumference, and uneven in appearance, is 4 miles to the northward of High island, and S.W.S., 12 miles from the lighthouse on the south-west end of Fisher island.

Table Island bearing S.S.E. E. nearly 5 miles from the lighthouse on Fisher island, is aptly named, the summit being a dead flat 200 feet above the sea; near its south-west end is a sudden fall nearly to the sea level, giving it at a short distance the appearance of two islands. The island is not quite 2 miles long, in an E. by N. and W. by S. direction, and is seldom 3 cables wide. The 2 fathoms line extends 2 cables from its eastern extreme.

Tablet Island, lies about a mile to the northward of Table island, and between them the depth is 12 to 19 fathoms. A shoal, with only 9 feet least water upon it, extends N.W.W.14 mile from the north-west side of the island, and from its south-west edge, in 4 fathoms, the south end of the island bears S.E.E.; from its north-east limit the north point of the island bears S.E. by E.; and from the north-western limit Dome island bears N.E. by E.‡E.

Ponghou Island is 94 miles in extent, in a north and south direction; it is, however, separated into three portions by narrow channels, which have only 2 feet in them at low water, and are further blocked by stone weirs. The whole of the western face of the island is fronted by coral reefs. On its south-eastern side, between Hou and Leechin points, are two bays with fishing villages, either of which will afford anchorage in the North-east monsoon. The best shelter will be obtained in the northern bay of the two, as it is protected by some rocks, the reefs lying off which may be seen from the mast head, as the water is very clear. Dome bay, on the south-west side of the island, will also afford good anchorage in 6 fathoms.

Makung Harbour is formed at the south-west part of Ponghou island, and although much confined by coral reefs, it has sufficient depth for vessels of large draught. The town of Makung stands on the north side of an inlet, close to the north-east of the entrance, and will be easily recognised by a citadel and a line of embrasures. The large junks waiting for a favourable wind to take them to Formosa, anchor to the south-west of the town in 7 and 8 fathoms water, with Black rock lying midway between Fisher island and Makung, bearing N.E. by N. The junks belonging to the place lie close to the town, in a creek to the north-eastward of the citadel.

The harbour runs back 3 miles to the eastward from Chimney point, the south point of entrance, on which is an old Dutch fort. The southern shore is low, and on Dome hill, which is 154 feet above the sea, and the highest part of the land hereabouts, is a large pile of stones; the land between the hill and Chimney point is low, and in two places less than a cable across. Dome hill overlooks Dome bay on the south-west face of the island, in which there is a village and a fort. The isthmus immediately eastward of the village is low enough for the sea to break over it at high water during a south-east gale. The Plover anchored with Chimney point bearing N.W.W. distant 6 cables, which is also the width of the harbour here.

Within the harbour there are four coral patches, awash at low water springs,

but they may always be detected from the mast head in time to avoid them. From the westernmost patch Chimney point bears N.W. by W. W., and Dome hill S. by E.E.; the next patch lies a quarter of a mile farther eastward, with the fort on Chimney point N.W. by W. W. and Dome hill South; from the next patch the fort bears N.W. W., and the hill S.¿W.; and from the fourth patch the fort bears N.W.W., and the hill S.W. by S. They are all small in extent, and steep-to.

Directions.—In running for Makung harbour from the westward, pass about half a mile to the southward of Li-tsi-tah point, the south extreme of Fisher island, and then steer E.4N. for the town of Makung, which, as before observed, may be recognized by a citadel and a line of embrasures. The only dangers to be avoided in entering this passage are, the shoal with 9 feet on it, extending N.W.W. 14 mile from Tablet island; and a reef, just awash at high water, at half a mile westward of Dome island. Flat island, which lies 2 cables westward of Chimney point, is also surrounded by reefs to the distance of a cable's length from high water mark.

Fisher Island, which, in a collection of voyages in Dutch published in 1726, is called D'Vissers island, lies to the westward of Ponghou, and between them is the excellent and extensive harbour of Ponghou. The island is 5 miles long, north and south, and 3 miles broad. The south-east point, Siau head, is a bold cliff, rising 170 feet above the sea. A reef, which breaks at low water, extends 7 cables from the western shore of the island, and its outer extreme bears N. by E.E. from the lighthouse.

Light.-A fixed white light is exhibited at 225 feet above high water, from a lighthouse standing on the south-west extreme of Fisher island; but as part of the windows are glazed with oyster shells, and the apparatus very rude, it will not be seen much farther off than a mile.

The lighthouse, 30 feet high, was built 90 years ago by subscription, and the expense of lighting is defrayed by a port charge of a dollar upon each junk entering Makung harbour.

Anchorage.-Vessels seeking shelter in a north-east gale will find smooth water off the southern shore of Fisher island between the lighthouse and Siau head, where there are two sandy bays; in the eastern bay is a fort or line of embrasures, and in the western a run of fresh water, except during the dry

season.

Niu-kung bay, between the north end of Fisher island and Pehoe island, will afford shelter in the South-west monsoon. The north-east point of the former island is a table bluff with reefs, which cover at high water, extending 2 cables in a north-easterly direction from it.

Ponghou Harbour.-The eastern coast of Fisher island trends to the northward from Siau head, and forms several small bays, which are steep-to to a cable's length of the beach, until 2 miles north of the head, when reefs extend nearly 3 cables from the shore. To avoid these reefs, the fall of Siau head must not be brought southward of S. by W. W. after Makung citadel opens northward of the Black rock, which lies N.EE. 1 mile from Siau head, and part of it is always uncovered. When passing eastward of this rock, keep APP. 12 89