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. 282

[Page 282]
New Wales or East Coast of New Holland
June 1770 ([In margin] Endeavour River [and 1 cm below, also in the margin] Lay the Ship ashore to stop the Leak) the Ship moorings & warped her a little higher up the Harbr to a place I had Pitched upon to lay her ashore to stop the Leak draft of water Forward 7 feet 9 Inch: & abaft 13F:6I As being high water hauld her bow close ashore but kept her stern afloat because I was afraid of Nipping her & yet it was necessary to lay the whole of her as near the ground as possible at 2AM the Tide left her which gave us an Oppy to Examine the Leak which we found to be at her Floor Heads a little before the Starbd Fore Chains here the Rocks had made their way thro' 4 Planks quite to & even into the Timber & wounded 3 more the manner these planks were damaged or cut out as I may say is hardly credible [Indecipherable] Splinter was to be seen but the whole was cut away as if it had been done by Hands of man with a blunt edged Tool. Fortunately for us the Timbers in this place were very close other ways it would have been impossible to have saved the Ship & even as it was it appeared very extraordinary that she made no more water than what she did, a large piece of Coral rock was sticking in one Hole & sevl pieces of the Fothering small stones etc had made its way in  & lodged between the Timbers which had stopped the Water from forcing its way in in great Quany. Part of the Sheathing was gone from under the Larbd bow part of the false Kiel was gone & the remainder in such shatter'd condition that we should be much better off was it gone also, her Forefoot & some parts of her Main Kiel was also damaged but not Materially, what damage she may have received abaft we could not see but believe not much as the Ship makes but little water, while the Tide keeps below the Leak Forward, At 9 the Carpentrs went to work upon the ship while the Armrs were busy making Bolts Nails etc. 

Saturday 23d Winds S Easterly a fresh Gale & fair wear Carpentrs empld Shifting the Damaged Planks along as the tide would permit them to work, at low water PM we examined the Ships bottom under the Starbd side she being dry as far aft as the Afterpt of the Fore Chains, we could not find that she had received any other damage on this side but what has been mentioned. In the morning I sent 3 men into the Country to shoot Pidgeons as some of  these birds had been seen flying about, in the evening they returned with about 1/2 a Dozen one of the Men saw an Animal, something less than a grey hound it was of a Mouse Colour very slender made & swift of Foot. AM I sent a Boat to haul the Team who return'd at noon having made 3 Hauls & caught only 3 fish & yet we see them in plenty Jumping about the harbour but can find no method of catching them.
Sunday 24th Wind & wear as yesterday PM the Carprs finished the Starbd side & at 9 heeld the ship the other way & hauld her off about 2 feet for fear of Nipping. In the AM