Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/26

 sedimentary waters from the Pakchan river run with great force through the small channels of this barrier chain in the south west monsoon, and being checked by the westerly winds which prevail in this locality during that season, have not only filled the narrow passages with deposit, but raised an extensive bar of sand and mud immediately before their western entrances.

In this locality of sunken rocks and sand banks, are now the existing channels, used by small sized trading steamers visiting Rehnong and Malliwan; there are two of these, viz:—

The North Channel is between Victoria Point and Victoria Island, and the course leads between South Island and a large patch of foul ground composed of sunken rocks and sand banks lying immediately off, but close to its south side. This channel is very narrow and dangerous, and is fit only for the navigation of very small steamers in fine weather by daylight; no sailing vessel would ever attempt it.

The South Channel runs close to the north shore of Saddle Island, and between Harry Head and Spiteful Rock. Sand banks awash, and above water, form the northern boundary of this passage. From Spiteful Rock, three miles in a W.S.W. direction, runs the point of the extensive bank I spoke of as fronting the west side of the islands. The passage between Spiteful Rock and Harry Head, is barely half a mile wide, and has five fathoms in the middle of it. This is the best channel to enter the Pakchan river by, but, however well lighted and marked, it can only be considered fairly safe for small sized steamers in fair weather. Like the North Channel it is intricate, and has a sharp bend in the course between Spiteful Rock and Harry Head. An accident happening to the steering gear of a large steamer at this point in bad weather, would most likely result in the loss of the vessel. Looking at the matter from an impartial point of view, my conviction is that the South Channel is highly dangerous for the navigation of mail, or other large steamers during the thick stormy weather too frequently experienced in the S.W. monsoon.

has been described by Captains Fraser and Furlong in their report which will be found in the appendix,