State Library of NSW
New Wales or En Coast of New Holland Sept 1770 we kept advancing to the WNW depth of water 8:7 & 5 fa.om at 1/2 past 1 the pinnace which was ahead made the signal for shoal water upon which we tack'd & sent away the gawl to sound also & tack'd again & stood after them with the ship 2 hours after this they both at once made the signal for having shoal water I was afraid to stand on for fear of coming aground at that time of the tide & therefore came to an anchor in 1/4 less of 7 fa.om sandy ground Wallice's Isl.nd bore SbW1/2W distant 5 or 6 miles the Islands to the northward extend from So. 1/3 E to N10E & small island just in sight bearing NW1/2W There we found the flood tide set to the westw.d & ebb the contrary. After we had come to anchor I sent away the Master with the longboat to sound who upon his return in the evening reported that there was a bank stretching No. & So upon which were 3 fathom water & behind it 7 fath.om we had it calm all night & until 9 in the morning at which time we weigh'd with a light breeze at SSE. steer'd NWbW for the small island above mentioned having first sent the boats ahead to sound depth of water 8:7:6:5:4 & 3 fa.om when upon the bank. it being now the last quarter ebb at this time the most northernmost islands we had in sight bore N9°E the SW point of the largest island on the NW side of the passage which point I named Cape Cornwall bore E.dist.ce 3 leag.s & Wallice's Isle bore So.3°E distant 3 leagues, this bank at least so much as we sounded extends nearly No. & So. Therefore I cannot say its breadth however is not more than 1/4 or at most 1/2 mile being over the bank we deepened our water to a 1/4 less 7 fa.om which depth we carried all the way to the small island ahead which we reached by Noon at which time we bore So. distant near 1/2 a mile depth of water 5 fa.om the most northernm.st land we had in sight being part of the same chain of islands we have had to the northw.d of us since we enter'd the passage/bore No.71E Lat.de in by observa.n 10°33'So. Long.d 219°:22'W. for this situation we had no part of the mainland in sight being now near the island & having but little wind Mr Banks & I landed upon it & found it to be mostly barren rock frequented by birds such as Boobies as few of which we shott & occasioned my giving it the name of Booby Island. I made but a very short stay at this Island before I return'd to the ship in the meantime the wind had got to NW & altho it blow'd but very faint yet it was accompanied with a swell from the same quarter this together with other concuring circumstances left us no room to doubt but we had got to the weswr.d of Carpentaria or the Northern extremity of New Holland & had now an open sea to the westward which gave me no small satisfaction not only because the dangers & fatigues of the voyage was drawing near to an end but by being able to proves that New.
This page has its status set to Ready for review and is no longer transcribable.