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. 183

New Zealand

1769
December -sails at 12 Tack'd & Stood to the Westwd. until 7 AM when we Tack'd & stood again to NE being at this time abt. a Mile to windwd. of the place where we tack'd last night soon after we Tack'd it came to blow very hard at NNW with heavy squalls attended with rain, this brought us under our Courses & Split the Main Topsail in such a manner that it was necessary to unbind it & bring another to the Yard, at 10 it fell more modte. * we set the Topsails double reef'd. at Noon had strong Gs. & hazey wear. Tack'd & Stood to the Westwd. no land in sight for the first time since we have been upon the Coast ~

Thursday 14th Strong Gs. at W & WSW with Squalls at times attended with Rain at ½ past 3 PM Tack'd & stood to the Northwd. a small Island lying off Knockle Pt. bore S½W distt. half a League. in the evening brought the Ship under her Courses having first Split the Fore & Main Topsails at Midnight wore & Stood to the Southward until 5 AM then Tack'd & stood to the NW. at this time saw the Land bearing So. distt. 8 or 9 Leags. by this we found we had fell very much to Seaward since Yesterday morning. set the Topsails close Reeft & the People to work to dry & repair the Damaged Sails. at Noon a strong Gale & clear wear. Latde. observ'd 34:6 So. saw land bearing SW being the same NW as most land we have seen before & which I take to be the Northern Extremity of this Country as we have now a large swell rowling in from the Westwd. which could not well be was we covered by any land on the Point of the Compass ~

Friday 15th Fresh Gs. at SW & for the most pt. clear wear. with a large Swell from the Westwd. at 8 PM Tack'd & Stood to the SE until 8 AM then Tack'd & Stood to the Westward with as much Sail as the Ship could bear. at Noon we were in the Latde.of 94:10 So. & Longde. 185:45 W & by Estimation about 15 Leags. from the Land notwithstanding we used our utmost Endeavours to keep in with it ~ 

Saturday 16th Fresh breezes between the SbW & SW clear wear. with a Swell from the Westwd. - at 6 AM saw the land from the Mast Head bearing SSW got Top Gallt. Yards up & set the Sail unbent the Topsail to repair & brot. another to the Yard at Noon Latde. observ'd 38:43 So. Course made since Yesterday Noon No. 60 W dist 56 Miles The Land in sight bearing SbW distt. 14 Leags. ~ 

Sunday 17th A Gentle breeze between the SWbW & W with clear wear. in standg. in Shore sounded several times & had no ground with 90 fam. of line at 8 AM Tack'd in 108 fathm. 3 or 4 Miles from the Shore being the same Point of Land as we had to the NW of us before we were blown off. at Noon it bore SW distt. abt. 5 Leags. Mount Camel bore SbE distt. 11 Lgs. & the Westermst. land in sight bore So.75 W Latde. observ'd 34:20 So. The people at work repairing the Sails the most of them having been Split in the late blow I weather ~