Malay Peninsula.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



351 



the reef does not extend above a cable's length off it; and just without that, 

 the depth of water is from twelve to fourteen fathoms. Having rounded 

 the peaked island, at half a mile, a N. or N. by E. course will lead to the 

 anchorage, and twelve or fourteen fathoms be the depth ; but when at one 

 mile and a half f rom the island, it will decrease to live or four and three- 

 quarters fathoms at low water, on a flat which is two miles and a half long, 

 and is parallel to the coast : there is no danger whatever on this bank, being 

 soft mud. Continuing the N. or N. by E. course, you will deepen into a 

 channel of twelve or thirteen fathoms, and again shoal rather quickly to 

 six fathoms on the shore bank ; after which the depth decreases gradually to 

 the shore. Large ships will find die best anchorage to be with Peaked 

 Island about S. by W., and the E. extreme of Singapore Island about 

 N. E. by E., in five fathoms at low water, where they will have the tower 

 bearing N. W. by W., distant one mile and a half. Ships of easy draught 

 can go nearer into three fathoms at low water, with the Peaked Island 

 bearing S. W., and Johore Hill on with the E. extreme of Singapore Island, 

 where they will l>e distant about three-quarters of a mile from the tower, 

 and about half a mile from the E. low sandy point of the bay. 



u The coast to the E. of the Town-bay is one continued sandy beach ; 

 and half a mile to the E. point of the bay, or two miles and a half from the 

 town, there is a point where the depth of water is six or seven fathoms, at 

 three or four hundred yards from the shore ; and at six hundred yards a 

 small bank, with about three fathoms at low water : the point offers a 

 favourable position for batteries to defend ships that may in time of war 

 anchor near it. 



** The tide during the neaps is irregular at two and three miles off 

 shore, but close in it is otherwise. The rise and fall will be about ten ©r 

 twelve feet, and it will be high water at full and change at 8h. 30 m, 

 The latitude of the town is about V 15^' N., and the variation of the 

 needle observed on the low E. point of the bay, is Sf 9 E.^ 



Anew route having been discovered into the Straits, the following 

 directions are published for general information. 



Directions for passing through the N. E. Entrance into the Straits of 

 Singapore, from the Strait* of Dryon, or Philip** Channel, 



After clearing the Middleburgh Shoal either to the E. or W., a direct 

 course may be steered for Cap Island, which lays near a bluff headland 

 on the E. shore. This island bears N. E. by N. from the centre of the 

 Middleburgh Shoal, and N. N.E] E. from the centre of Red Island. On 



