islands, on the east bank of the river, and which must be left on the port hand. The Spiteful rock shows at low water; it is part of a rocky ledge projecting about 30 yards from the island.

To pass between the Spiteful rock and Lo-sing spit, and avoid the latter, do not shut in Younoi head with Flat island, until Black Cliff head, just passed (marked with a white spot), comes in line with the northern edge of Spiteful island.

The Pagoda rock, off the south point of Lo-sing

island, dries

at low water springs. The best anchorage is between this rock and about half a mile above it; should this anchorage be full, a vessel should anchor near the south shoulder of Lo-sing island, where she will be out of the strength of the tide. The river is navigable for vessels three-quarters of a mile above the pagoda on Lo-sing island; but the channel is narrow, the tides strong, and the latter anchorage is generally preferred.

Leaving the River Min.-In dropping through the Mingan Pass with the ebb tide, it will be necessary to guard against a dangerous eddy setting from the point above Couding island on to the Scout rock.

On leaving the river, take care that the set of the tide across the channel between Sharp Peak point and Rees rock does not force the vessel on the shoals on the north side of the channel. Fair anchorge in 6 fathoms, to stop a tide, will be found with Rees rock bearing S.S.E.

The junks generally use the Woga channel between Woga and Sharp Peak islands, but to the northward of the latter island there are several sandbanks, which show at low tide, and there are not more than 6 feet water between the banks.

Matsou Island (Ma-tsu-shan) lies to the north-east of the entrance of the river Min, and North 10 miles from the western White Dog; and between the two, and N. by E.E. 6 miles from the latter, is a precipitous black rock, 60 feet high, surrounded by reefs, named the Sea Dog.

S.W. by S. one mile from the Sea Dog is a rock called Hebe reef, which shows when there is a heavy swell and at low water springs; from it the west end of Matsou bears N.N.W.¿W., and the Breakwater rock at Tong-sha island S. by W. W.; the east end of Reef island (off the east point of Matsou) in line with Changchi peak N. by E.E. will lead to the westward.

Between the Sea Dog and Matsou are two other rocks above water, named the Sea Cat and the Flat rock, but they should not be approached within the distance of 2 cables.*

Caution.-A dangerous rook, on which the sea breaks at low water, has lately been discovered by the river Min pilots, lying East 3 miles from the Sea Cat, and N.N.E. from the highest part of the Middle Dog. Until this danger has been farther examined, the mariner should use great caution in approaching its locality, for its position is given by compass bearings, and therefore must be considered doubtful.

Anchorage.-A good roadstead will be found on the western side of Matsou island during the North-east monsoon, and good shelter in the deep bay on its

• See Chart, East Coast of China, Sheet 6, No. 1,754; scale, d = 14) inches.

northern face in the South-west monsoon. H.M.S. Hornet was well sheltered in 5 fathoms, muddy bottom, at a third of a mile from the shore, with the west extreme of bay bearing N.W.4W., east extreme E.N.E., centre peak of bay S.W., and Pastel rock N. by E.E. There are several villages around the bay, and fish, goats, and a small quantity of poultry may be procured; fresh water can be obtained in both bays.

Changohi Island.-At 1 mile to the north-east of Matsou is Changchi island, having two remarkable sharp peaks on it, the highest of which is 1,030 feet above the sea. On the northern face of the island are several islets, the largest of which, Gordon islet, bears North 2 miles, but there is no safe passage between them. N.E. 1 mile from Gordon is a small black rock, with a reef lying westward of it.

At half a mile S.S.E. E. from the islet off the south point of Chang-chi are two rocks always above water; and West 1 mile from the south point is the Pastel rock.

N.E. by E.E. 2 miles from the north-east point of Changchi, and with a channel between them, are three peaked rocks, named the Trio, 50 feet above the sea.

Anchorage.—The bay on the south side of Changchi affords good shelter in the North-east monsoon. Vessels entering from the northward can round its eastern point close-to, and anchor within the point, in 6 fathoms. Either this or the anchorge on the western side of Matsou should be used by sailing vessels bound to the River Min during the North-east monsoon, as they may always get to the bar from hence to the precise moment they require it, but from the White Dogs a vessel will barely fetch.

Alligator, Island or Tungsha, is a barren rock, about 40 feet above the sea, in lat. 26° 9' N., long. 120° 26' E. It lies East 224 miles from Matsou island, and N.E. by E.JE. 26 miles from the south end of the White Dogs.

Larne Rock and Islet.-N.W. by W. 12 miles from Alligator island is Larne rock, which is low and flat, with a reef lying 2 cables north of it. Larne islet, bearing N. by E. 5 miles from Larne rock, has ledges extending from its north and south ends. It is about 200 feet above the sea, with large boulders sticking up here and there; near its summit are three houses.

Black Rock, 40 feet high, is 7 miles to the W.N.W. of Larne islet, and the channel between it and Ragged point is 6 miles wide. A reef, which shows at low water, lies E.N.E. 5 miles from the Black rock, and midway between Larne and Cony islets, with Larne bearing S. by E.E. 5 miles, the north end of Tung-ying island E.S., and Cony islet N.W.N.

Tung-Ying, the easternmost island on this part of the coast, bears EN. 13 miles from Larne islet, and its peak rises 855 feet above the sea. The appearance of this island is level and flat, with steep cliff shores, and a large village stands on the western side; off its south extreme is a ledge of rock. There is another island half a mile to the north-westward of Tung-ying, appearing as part of it, except on a N.E. by N. or S. W. by S. bearing.

Anchorage. There is a good anchorage in the North-east monsoon, in 10

fathoms, at half a mile to the southward of the small island lying off the northwest point of Tung-ying.

Cony Island is a remarkable conical island, lying W.N.W. 19 miles from Tung-ying; a reef extends 3 cables off its north-east shore, otherwise the channel, which is nearly 1 mile wide, between it and the two islands north of it, is safe. There is a rock, awash at low water, lying East 1 mile from the cone, and another S.E.JE. 1 mile; from the latter the south end of Spider island bears W.N.*

Spider Island lies 3 miles to the westward of Cony island, and its highest part is 620 feet above the sea. There is a large village in a bay on its south side, a reef off its south-west point, and four islets off its north-east face. Between Spider island and the main, which is 5 miles distant, there are three other islets; between the first and Spider island is a half-tide rock; the centre one, named Isthmus, has a sandy isthmus and a mud bank extending westerly from it, but the channel between it and the first islet is clear. The passage between Isthmus and Inside islet to the westward of it, is obstructed by half tide rocks. The channel between the latter islet and Cox point has 6 to 4 fathoms water, and is a mile wide. To the southward of Isthmus islet are the Larva rocks, four of which are above water; reefs, however, extend northerly from them, rendering the passage between them and Isthmus islet barely a mile wide.

Anchorage. There is good shelter from N.E. winds on the west side of Spider island.

Ting-haeBay, formed on the west side of a peninsula on the mainland 13 miles westward of Changchi, affords safe anchorage in 2 to 3 fathoms in the N.E. monsoon.

Fronting this bay to the southward and south-east are many islets and rocks. The outermost (four islets above water, named Square rocks) lie 3 miles to the southward, with reefs extending northerly from them. To the north-east of the Square rocks is Crab islet, surrounded by reefs, which extend off its north-west part at least half a mile. In the channel between Crab islet and Ting-hae point are two islets.

Wanki Bay, 6 miles to the E.N. E. of Ting-hae, is frequented by junks; but although it affords them good shelter, it cannot be recommended for larger vessels. There is a rock, which shows at low water, lying near the centre of the bay at 7 cables from the shore, with Pe-kyau point bearing E N., and the nearest Claret rock S.E. by S.

Claret Rocks lie 1 mile to the southward of the east point of Wanki bay. Three of them are from 20 to 30 feet above the sea, but they are all surrounded by sunken rocks, the southernmost of which lies S.W.S., half a mile from the south Claret, with the hill over Ting-hae bay bearing W N., and the summit of Matsou S. by E. The northernmost rock lies N.E.E. a mile from the north Claret, with the north end of Gordon islet in one with a small islet beyond it, bearing E. by S.4S. Pe-kyau point is half a mile to the northward of this rock; there is a channel between them, but the sunken rocks lying off • See Plan of Sam-sah Bay.

APP. 13

97

the point narrow it to 2 cables; a stranger therefore should pass south of the Claret rocks, and haul up when the village in Wanki bay bears North.

Ragged Point is the extreme of a narrow peninsula, in some places only half a mile across, which runs 5 miles to the E.N.E. of Wanki bay. Off the east end of the point, distant a quarter of a mile, is Diplo islet, with a reef three-quarters of a cable's length to the eastward of it. The junks use the passage between Diplo and the main, but vessels have no business in it, as the tides are strong.

Sam-sah Inlet.*—The entrance to this inlet, at 10 miles to the westward of Spider island, is 1 mile wide, with deep water and strong tides. On the eastern side, close to the entrance, is a small bay with a fort in it, and here the junks remain for a tide, but the water shoals too suddenly for vessels that cannot take the ground. A rock lies in mid-channel, with Castle point bearing E.IN., centre peak of Cone island N. W., and Steep rock N. by E.E.; the west end of Cone island in line with the highest peak of Crag island will lead eastward of it.t

The Plover made a running survey of the interior of this inlet. In proceeding to the westward, she left a large island on the port hand, then hauled to the northward, and found anchorage on a middle ground, three-quarters of a mile from the shore, and 51⁄2 miles above the island. The bay extended to the northward 13 miles beyond this anchorage, terminating in a sandy isthmus, over which Fuh-ning bay was seen. The bay also runs back to the west and south-west; in the latter arm is the town of Ning-teh-hien

At 4 miles to the southward of the entrance of Sam-sah inlet is the opening into another inlet, which is 10 miles deep; there are 30 fathoms water at the entrance, but circumstances did not admit of its being examined.

Rag Island.-Off the entrance to Sam-sah inlet, and 7 miles to the southwestward of Spider island, there are three islets, named Rag islands, having the Bittern rock, which covers at high water, lying a mile to the northward of them. The Plover anchored to the westward of the westernmost islet, and found tolerable shelter. The tides here run with great strength, and a long swell rolls home into the bay with north-east winds.

Tides. It is high water, full and change, at Changchi island at 9h. 30m., and at Spider island at 10h. Om.; springs rise 17 feet. Inside Matsou and Changchi islands the tidal streams are very perceptible, there being a great indraught into Ting-hae bay and the northern entrances to the river Min with the flood, and the velocity off Ragged point sometimes amounts to 3 knots. There is also a great indraught into Sam-sah inlet.

To the northward of Changchi the flood came from the E.N.E. at the rate of 14 knot per hour, and the ebb from W. by S. 13 knot; also off Cony island the ebb averaged 14 knot from W. by S. at neaps. At the anchorage inside Sam-sah inlet the ebb came from the N.W., and it ran 11 miles in a tide; the flood set E.N.E. for the first 3 hours, then S.E.

* Sam-sah inlet is not known by that name to the natives or European coasters. The true Sam-sah lies farther north, between Fuh-ning and Nam-quan.-Commander G. T. Colvile, H.M.S. Camilla, December 1859.

↑ See Plan of Sam-sah bay, No. 1,988; scale, m = 0.7 of an inch.

Double Peak Island is 34 miles long, N.N.E. and S.S.W., and near its northern end are two remarkable peaks, the highest of which rises to the height of 1,190 feet above the sea. It lies 3 miles to the north-east of Spider island, the only danger in the channel between being the rocks lying off the north end of the latter island.

There are two cone-shaped islets between Double Peak and Cony island, with channels between too narrow for sailing vessels, but there is a good passage between the southernmost of these islets and Cony island: reefs extend 3 cables in a north-easterly direction from the latter, and the west point of the former is not steep-to.*

Anchorage.—Good anchorage in the North-east monsoon will be found to the south-east of a small islet, with a rock above water on each side of it, lying three-quarters of a mile to the westward of the west point of Double Peak island; the two cone-shaped islets to the northward of Cone island sheltering from the eastern swell.

Flap Island, at 1 mile westward of the north end of Double Peak, is a low flat islet, with a sunken rock off its southern point. There is no passage fit for vessels between this islet and the mainland, but there is good shelter abreast the first sandy bay within the point westward of it.

Bittern Island.-To the northward of Flap and Double Peak islands the coast trends to the northward for 9 miles to Fielon island, and off it is Bittern island and several rugged rocks, which it will be advisable for vessels of large draught to give a berth to, and not to close the shore under the depth of 6 fathoms. Bittern island is from 3 to 4 miles in circumference, and between it and the main there is a passage three-quarters of a mile wide and a mile in length, affording good anchorage in 3 fathoms for small vessels in either monsoon. On the north-west side of the island is a sandy cove, where fresh water will be found. H.M.S. Bittern anchored in 4 fathoms, with Goodridge point E.N., and the extremes of the island from S. by E.E. to S.W. by S. Fuh-ning Bay. From Fielon island the coast falls back to the westward, forming a deep but shallow bay, in which is the city of Fuh-ning. In the northern part of the entrance is a group of islets, extending 2 miles from the coast. The Plover anchored under the south-western, named Fong-ho, which is the largest, but the shelter was not good.

Pih-seang Islands.-N.E. by E. 10 miles from Double Peak island is the Pih-seangor Tsih-sing group. The northern islet, named Town island, is the largest, and at its south-west angle there is a little cove, which will afford shelter to one or two small vessels. Between the northern and southern islets of the group there is a channel free from rocks, but the intervening space is studded with fishing-stakes.

Fub-yau Island, 1,700 feet above the sea, lies North 12 miles from the Pih-seang group, and between it and the coast is a good roadstead, named Lishan bay. The anchorage in the bay is on the Fuh-yau side, abreast an islet and a temple. The northern entrance to the bay is broad and

* See Chart, China, East Coast, Sheet 6, No. 1,754; scale, d = 14 inches.