'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎93] (204/258)

ON THE MALABAR COAST. 93
coeval with them. It seems strange therefore, that it should so long have re
mained undiscovered, as it is the only one on which the bottom is discernible,
and on the southern edge, green and dark patches are not only distinctly
visible from the mast head, but from the deck, the chain cables or other small
objects lying on the bottom can be plainly seen. The bottom coarse sand,
broken shells, madrepore, and decayed coral.
We were at anchor on and in the vicinity of this bank from February
20th to March 1st,—wind from N.W. to N. E., generally blowing fresh at night
from N. W., and with a current setting all the time from S. W. and S. E.
The rise and fall of tide we ascertained to be 5 feet.
Cherbanian ReeE, called Belliapani by the Natives, Southern end in
lat T2 ° IT N, longitude 71 ° 52-4' E., is 6 miles long and 2£ broad, pear-
shaped, and lies in a North and South direction, the broad end being
to the Northward.
This very dangerous shoal is composed of a barrier reef of live coral
rock, inside which the depths vary from 1 to 5 fathoms—sand, thickly studded
with coral patches. No part of it is dry at all times, except a patch on the
Northern end, where the dry and dead coral rock is heaped up, both natural
ly and artificially, and which at high water is about 10 feet above the level of
the sea, and another on the Eastern side, at nearly the centre, where there is a
bank of sand, which though but little elevated above the sea, yet from being so
white is visible from the deck of a vessel about 5 miles. Here also is an
entrance into the lagoon, there being at high water 2 fathoms. This passage
is used by the Laccadive islanders, who resort here in great numbers to fish,
which with turtle are found in great abundance. At very low water springs
however, the rocks are awash all round.
From the centre towards the Southern end a bank of soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. extends off
it, for a distance of from 150 to 250 yards, but at the Southern end it runs off
for a distance of 4 a mile, gradually deepening from 2k and 3 fathoms close to
the breakers, to 15 and 20 on the edge, next cast no bottom. The rise and
fall on the springs is from 7 to 9 feet, and round the South end the ebb runs
to W. S. W. 2k knots per hour. Flood N. E. 1 knot. High water, full and
change, 10 hours.
There is very good anchorage off the Southern end. A vessel wishing (o
make this point, and coming from Eastward, may run close along the reef
until on S. Eastern edge, when she may haul up in from 6 to 9 fathoms,
and anchor with the centre of breakers, bearing North, distance about 500
yards She will then have the Western extreme of breakers N. W. by N.,
where good shelter from a N. Wester will be had, and in approaching this
reef it should be borne in mind, that there are no dangers but those which are
visible.