James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 258

                               New Wales or East Coast of New Holland

I conjectured that there must be a sufficient depth of Water for Shipping in the bay. We saw several smokes a little way in the country upon the flat land by this I did suppose that there were Lagoons which afforded subsistance for the Natives such as shell fish etc for we as yet know nothing else they have to live upon. At ½ past 5 the Northermost land in sight bore N. 36. E. &  Point Stephens S.W. dist. 4 Leag. at which time we took in our Steerings.& run under an Easey sail all night until 4 AM when we made all Sail, our sounding in the night was from 48 to 62 fathoms at the distance of between 3 & 4 Leagues from the land.  At 8 we were abreast of a high point of Land which made in 2 Hillocks this point I called Cape Hawke Latitude 32 degrees 14 minutes South Longitude 207 degrees 30 minutes West. It bore from us at this time West distance 8 Miles & the same time the Northermost land in sight bore North 6 degrees East & appeared high & like an Island. At Noon this land bore North 8 degrees East the Northermost land in sight North 13 degrees East & Cape Hawke South 37 degrees West Latitude in [indecipherable] Observation 32 degrees 2 minutes South which was 12 Miles to the Southward of that given by the Log which I do suppose to be owing to a Current sitting that way. Course & distance saild since yesterday at Noon was first NE by E 27 Miles then North 10 degrees East 37 Miles Longitude in 207 degrees 20 Minutes West Variation per morning Amplitude & Azimoth 9 degrees 10 minutes East __________________
Saturday 12th  Winds Southerly a Gentle breeze in the pm. As we run along [indecipherable] we saw several smokes a little way inland from the Sea & one upon the Top of a hill which was the first we had seen upon elevated ground since we have been upon the Coast. At sun set we were in 23 fathoms & about a League and a half from the land the Northermost part of which we had in sight bore North 13 degrees East & 3 remarkable large high hills lying Contigious to each other & not far from the Shore bore NNW; as these Hills bore some resemblance to each other we called them the 3 Brothers. They lay in the Latitude of 31 degrees 40 minutes South & are of a heigth sufficient to be seen 14 or 16 Leagues.  We steered NE by North all Night having from 27 to 67 fathoms from 2 to 5 or 6 Leagues from the Land, & by daylight we steer'd North for the Northermost land we had in sight. At noon we were 4 Leagues from the Land & by observation in the Latitude of 31 degrees 18 minutes South which was 15 Miles to the Southward of that given by the Log. Our Course & distance made good time yesterday noon was North 24 degrees East 48 Miles, Longitude 206 degrees 58 minutes West several Smokes seen a little way in land ___________

Sunday 13th    In the pm stood inshore with the Wind at NE until 6 at which time we Tack'd being about 3 or 4 Miles from the Land & in 26 fathoms, stood offshore with a fresh breeze at N & NNW until Midnight then Tack'd being in 118 fathoms & 8 Leagues from the Land. At 8 am the wind veer'd to the Westward & we Tack'd & stood to the Northward. At noon we were by Observation in the Latitude of 30 degrees 43 minutes South & Longitude 206 degrees 45 minutes West & about 3 or 4 Leagues from the Land the Northermost part of which bore from us North 13 degrees west & a point or