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. 171

New Zealand

[Left hand margin note in red ink - 1769 November]
[Left hand margin note - River Thames]

Monday 20th Mod.te breezes at SSEt & fair wea.r at 2 PM the boats return'd from sounding not having found above 3 feet more water than were we now lay: upon this I resolved to go no further with the Ship but to Examine the head of the Bay in the Boats for as it appeared to run a good way inland I thought this a good opportunity to see a little of the interior parts of the Country & its produce, accordingly at daylight in the morning I set out with the Pinnace & Long boat accompanied by M.r Banks, Dr Solander & Tupia we found the inlet end in a River ab.t 9 Miles above the Ship into which we Enter'd with the first of the flood & before we had gone 9 Miles up it found the Water quite fresh we saw a number of the Natives & landed at one of their Villages the inhabitants of which received us with open Arms. we made but a Short stay with them but proceeded up the river until near Noon when finding the face of the country to continue pretty much the same & no alteration in the Course or stream of the River or the least probability of seeing the end of it, we landed on the W.t side in order to take a View of the lofty Trees which Adorn its banks, being at the time 12 or 14 Miles within the Entrance & here the Tide of Flood seems as strong as it does in the River Thames below bridge.~
Tuesday 21st After Landing as abovemention'd we had not gone a hundred yards into the woods before we found a Tree that girted 19 feet 8 Inches, 6 feet above the ground & having a Quadrant with me I found its length so that I judged that there was 356 Solid feet of timber in this Tree clear of the branches, we saw many others of the same sort, several of which were Taller than the one we measured & all of them very stout, there were likewise many other sorts of very Stout Timber Trees all of them wholy unknown to any of us. we brought away a few specimens & at 3 o'Clock we embarqued in order to return (but not before we had named this river the Thames on accot of its bearing some resemblance to that River In England) onboard with the very first of the Ebb. in our return down the river, the inhabitants of the Village where we landed in going, seeing that we return'd by another Channell put off in their Canoes & mett us & Trafficked with us in the most friendly manner immaginable until' they had disposed of the few Trifles they had. The tide of the Ebb just carried us out of the narrow part of the River into the Sea reach as I may call it where meeting with the flood & a Strong breeze at NNW obliged us to come to a Grapnel & we did not reach the Ship until' 7 o'Clock in the AM. Intending to get under Sail at high water the Longb.t was sent to take up the Kedge Anchor but it blow'd so strong that she could not reach the Buoy, & the gale increasing soon obliged us to bear away more Cable & Strike Top Gallant Yards~
Wednesday 22d Winds at NNW.t The AM fresh G. & hazy with rain the remainder moderate & Clear at 3 PM the Tide of Ebb making we took up our Anchors & got under Sail
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