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. 294

 [Page 294]
New Wales or East Coast of New Holland
Augt 1770 think it safe to run in among the Shoals until I had well view’d them at low Water from the Mast head that I might be better Able to Judge which way to Steer for as yet I had not resolved wether I should beat back to the Southwd round all the Shoals or seek a Passage to the Eastward or Northward all of which appeared to be equally difficult & dangerous, when at Anchor the Harbour saild from bore So70oWt distant 4 or 5 Leags, the Northermt point of the Main land we have in sight which I named Cape Bedford (Latd 15;17So Longde 214:405" Wt) bore N 20o Wt distant 3 1/2 Leags but we could see land to the NEt of this Cape which made like 2 high Islands the Turtle banks bore Et distce one Mile Latde by Observn 15:23 So our depth of Water in standg off from the land was from 3 1/2 to 15 fm. ([written in margin:] The River discribed) I shall now give a Short description of the Harbour River we have been in which I named after the Ship Endeavour River. It is only a small Harbour or Creek wch runs winding 3 or 4 Leags in land, at the Head of which is a small fresh Water Brook as I was told for I was not so high myself, but there is not water for Shipping above a Mile within the barr & this is on the No side where the bank is so steep for near a quarter of a Mile that ships may lay afloat at low Water so near the Shore as to reach it with a stage & is extreamly Convenient for heaving a Ship down & this is all the River hath to recommend it especially for large Shipping for there is no more than 9 or 10 feet Water upon the Bar at low water & 17 or 18 at high the Tides rises and falling abt 9 feet at spring Tides & is high on the days of the New & full Moon between 9 and 10 o’Clock besides this part of the Coast is barrocaded with Shoals as to make this Harbr more difficult of access, the safest way I know of to come at it is from the Southwd keeping the Main land close onboard all the way its situation may always be found by the Latitude which hath been before mentioned, over the So point is some high Land, but the No point is formed by a low sandy beach which extends about 3 Miles to the Northwd, then the land is again high.The refreshmts we got here where Chiefly Turtle but as we had to go 5 Leags out to Sea for them and had much blowing wear we were not over Stocked with this Article, ([written in margin:] All Refreshments equally divided) however what with these & the fish we caught with the Sean we had not much reason to Complain considering the Country we were in, whatever refreshmts we got that would bear a Division I caused to be equally divided among the whole Company generally by weight the meanest Person in the Ship had an equal share with myself or any one onboard & this method every commander of a Ship on such a Voyage as this ought ever to Observe. We found in several places on the Sandy beaches & Sand Hills near the