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. 116

                                       Georges Island

The Island produces no Article of Trade [in margin]

can be converted into an Article of Trade so that the value of the discovery consists wholy in the refreshments it will always afford to shipping in their passage those those seas & in this it may be greatly improved by transporting hither horned Cattle etc.  Pumpkins have got a footing here the seeds of which most probably were brought here by the Spaniards. we sow'd of the seeds of Water, & Must Mellons which grew up & throve very fast, we also gave of these seeds & the seeds of Pine Apples to several of the Natives & as it cannot be doubted but what they will thrive here & will be a great addition of the fruits they already have. Upon our first arrival we sowed of all sorts of english garden seeds & grain but not a single thing came up except mustard sallad but this I know was not owing either to the Soil or Climate but to the badness of the Seeds which were spoild by the length of the passage

Of the winds [in margin]   
       
Altho' this Island lies within the Tropick of Capricorn yet the Heat is is not Troublesome nor do the winds blow constantly from the East but are subject to variations frequently blowing a fresh gale from the SW Quarter for 2 or 3 days together but very seldom from the NW.  whenever these variable winds happen they are always accompanied with a swell from the SW or WSW & the same thing happens when ever it is calm & the Atmosphere at the same time loaded with Cloudy sure indication that the winds are variable or westerly out at Sea for clear weather generally attend the settle trade 
      The meeting of Westerly winds within the general Limits of the Easterly trade is a little extraordinary & has induced former Navigators when they meet with them to think that they were caused by the nearness of some large Tracks of Land, but rather think they were owing to another Cause it hath been found both by the Dolphin & us that the trade winds in those parts of this Sea doth not extend farther to the Southward than 20º & without which we generally meet with a wind from the westward now is it not reasonable to suppose that when these winds blow strong they must incroach upon & drive back the Easterly winds as to cause the variable winds & SWesterly I have been speaking of it is well known that the Trade winds blow but faint for some distance within their limits & are therefore easily stopt by a wind from the Contrary direction it is likewise known that these limits are subject to vary several degrees not only at different seasons of the Year but at one & the same Season, another reason why I think that these SW winds are not caused by the nearness of any large Track of land is