Gaspar Strait

Gaspar Strait separates Belitung and Bangka islands in Indonesia. It connects the Java Sea to the South China Sea.

These straits, formed between the large islands Banca and Billiton, are generally called Gaspar Straits, after the Spanish captain from Manila, who passed through them in 1724; but Captain Hurle, returning from China in the English ship Macclesfield, had previously passed through them, in March 1702. Pulo Leat, or Middle Island, separates these straits into two principal branches; that to the westward, between it and the S.E. part of Banca, is often called Macclesfield Strait; and the eastern branch, situated between Middle Island, and Long Island, near Billiton, is generally called Clements' Strait, after Captain Clements, who commanded the fleet from China, that went through this branch in July 1781. Gaspar Island, or Pulo Glassa, in latitude 2 degrees 25 1/2 minutes S., longitude 107 degrees 6 minutes E., or 14 miles east of Batavia, bears due north from the east part of Middle Island, 24 miles away, and lies about 17 miles N.E. by E. from Tanjong Brekat.

Current names

Gaspar Strait is now Selat Gelasa,

Banca is now Bangka,

Billiton is now Belitung,

Pulo Leat is Pulau Liat, Long Island is Pulau Mendanau, Macclesfield Strait is Selat Lepila, Clements' Strait is Selat Limendo, Pulo Glassa is Pulau Gelasa, and Tanjong Brekat is Tandjung Berikat on the east coast of Bangka.