NAUTICAI. NOTES. - 263 



Other small iron beacons have been put up, one on the Silavatarai reef and three others in Dutch Bay. 

 T^vo of the latter have fallen owing to erosion and the loose nature of the sandy bottom where they 

 were erected. 



Besides the erection and maintenance of the above beacons, the Company have cleared Arxmakalu 

 tower of encroaching forest growth and cleaned and whitewashed it, as also Kutrimalle tower and 

 Kellar obelisk — all original landmarks. Kutrimalle and Arunakalu towers, both trigonometrical 

 stations, have furnished a base for fixing all landmarks as far north as Aripu tope. These two marks are 

 masonry towers, and are to be seen a considerable distance owing to their high elevation. Kutrimalle 

 tower is 230 feet and Arimakalu 280 feet above sea level. 



Starting from the south, Dutch Bay Beacon marks the southern extremity of the Company's area. 

 It is situated on Dutch Baj? Land, I mile north of the northern of the two conspicuoiis coconut topes 

 mentioned mider "Anchorages, Dutch Bay." It is, like Kutrimalle and Karativu beacons, built of 

 palmyra trees stepped in cement, and is 37 feet high from the base, which base is about 4 feet above low 

 water level. The beacon is painted white. 



Karativu Beacon is situated at the north end of Karativu island, and forms, together with Karativu 

 tope, a useful mark to locate the Shoal Buoy Position. As previously mentioned, it can be seen clearly 

 as far south as Bar reef. The beacon is 40 feet high and is coloured black. 



Kutrimalle Beacon is situated on Kutrimalle Point, and has an elevation of 145 feet above sea 

 level. It is painted black and white, one-third black from the top, the lower two-thirds white. The 

 beacon, with Kutrimalle tower, makes a useful magnetic transit bearmg for compass adjustment, as also 

 does Karativu beacon with Kutrimalle tower. 



The two beacons erected on Bar Reef mark the south-west aiid south-east extremities. The south- 

 west beacon has a black ball 5 feet in diameter, the top of which is 18 feet above low water mark. 

 The south-east beacon has a cask on top mth a cross below. The top of the beacon is 12 feet above low 

 water mark. The south-west beacon can be seen as far north as Karativu or Kutrimalle tope. 



. Aripu Reef Beacon is situated on the north-west extremity of Aripu reef, and marks tlie deep 

 water channel which lays between the Aripu and VankaU reefs. It is built of rail\pay iron topped with 

 angle iron, and is triangular in form, having three uprights, which arc bolted together at the top ; the 

 south and west sides are battered in and whitewashed. The beacon is surmounted by a staff and cross 

 yard ; the staff supports a conical cask, and a conical cask hangs from each yardarm, the whole being 

 coloured black. The beacon stands in 3 feet of water at low water, and has a height of 30 feet above 

 low water mark ; it is clearly visible at a distance of 9 miles. 



The Silavatarai Reef Beacon marks the southei'n extremity of this reef. It is a small beacon, and 

 only serves as a guide when anchoring to the south of it, which position forms the most convenient 

 anchorage for watermg. 



The VankaU Reef Beacon is built of railway iron bolted together. It is .situated on the. highest 

 and most compact part of the reef, on a spot where the depth is only 5 feet. The rails liave been driven 

 through the coral well into the mud and securely bolted together. The beacon is surmounted with a 

 6-feet black ball, the top of which is 28 feet above low water ; below the ball is an inverted black triangle. 

 The beacon is clearly visible to the naked eye at a distance of 8 miles, and forms a useful and mucb- 

 needed mark on the northern paars. 



Kellar and Doric Towers — or more correctly obelisks — are both original marlcs, erected by Govern- 

 ment on well-selected sites between Marichchukaddi and Aripu. They are visible all over the Cheval 

 Paar. Aripu tope also forms a useful mark, and can be seen as far west as the Periya Paar, distant 

 16 miles. 



The VankaU Light Beacon, wliich is an iron structure, has been boarded up by the Company on 

 the west and south side and whitewashed ; tliis was necessary, as owing to the nature of the structure it 

 could not be seen by day from the banks, although the Ught at night is visible 11 miles. The beacon 

 is now clearly seen a distance of 12 miles, and is, in conjunction with the VankaU reef beacon and 

 tlie beacon erected on the Aripu reef, a most useful landmark for the northern paars, i.e., Periya Paar 

 Karai and the true Vankah. It is also a valuable mark when making Mannar anchorage. The height 

 of the beacon is 46 feet from the base. 



