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. 260

   New Wales or East Coast of New Holland

May 1770    4 & 5 we discover'd breakers in our Larboard bow our Depth of Water at this Time was 37 Fathoms. At Sunset the Northermost land in sight bore N by W the breakers NW by W distance 4 Miles & the Northermost land set at Noon which form'd a point I named Point Lookout bore W distance 5 or 6 Miles Latitude 28 degrees 6 minutes on the North side of this point the shore forms a wide open bay which I have named Morton Bay in the Bottom of which the land is so low that I could but just see it from the Top mast head. The breakers I have mentioned lies about 3 or 4 Miles from Point Lookout, at this time we had a great Sea from the Southward which broke prodigious high upon them. Stood on the NNE until 8 when being past the breakers having Deepened our water to 52 fathoms we brought too until 12 o'clock then made sail to the NNE. At 4 am we sounded & had 135 fathoms. At day light I found that we had in the night got much farther to the Northward & from the Shore than I expected from the Course we steer'd, for we were at least 6 or 7 Leagues off  & therefore hauled in NW by W having the Advantage of a Fresh Gale at SSW the Northermost land seen last night bore from us at this time SSW distance 6 Leagues.
This land I named [C ?] Morton it being the North point of the Bay of the same Name (Latitude 26 degrees 56 minutes S Longitude 206 degrees 28 minutes). From C Morton the Land Trends away W further than we could see for there is a small Space where we could see no land, some on board where of opinion that there is a River there because the Sea looked paler than usual. Upon sounding we found 34 fathoms fine white sandy bottom which alone is sufficient change the apparent Colour of Sea Water without the Assistance of Rivers. The land need only to be low here as it is in a Thousand other places upon the Coast to have made it impossible for us to have seen it at the distance we were off, be this as it may it was a point that could not be clear'd up as we had the wind, but should anyone be desirous of doing it that may come after me this place may always be found by 3 Hills which lay to the Northward of it in the Latitude of 26 degrees 53 minutes S. These Hills lay but a little way inland & not far from Each other. They are very remarkable on account of the Singular form of Elevation which very much resembles Glass houses which occasioned my giving them that Name. The Northermost of the 3 is the highest & largest, there are likewise several other peaked hills inland to the Northward of these but they are not near so remarkable. At Noon we were by Observation in the Latitude of 26 degrees 28 minutes S which was 10 Miles to the Northward of the Log a Circumstance that hath not hapned since we have been upon the Coast before. Our Course & distance run since Yesterday noon was N by W 80 Miles which brought us into