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. 245

                                        New Wales or East Coast of New Holland
April 1770
Thursday 19th               In the pm had fresh Gales at SSW & Cloudy Squally weather, with a large Southerly Sea at 6 took in the Topsails & at 1 am brought too & Sounded but had no ground with 130 fathoms of line at 5 set the Topsails close reef'd & at 6 saw land extendding from NE to W, distance 5 or 6 Leagues having 80 fathoms fine sandy bottom we continued standing to the Westward with the Wind at SSW until 8 at which time we got Topgallant Yards across made all sail & bore away along shore NE for the Eastermost land we had in sight being at this time in the Latitude of 37 degrees: 58 minutes S & Longitude of 210 degrees: 39 minutes W. The Southermost point of land we had in sight which bore from us W 1/4 S I judged to lay in the Latitude of 38 degrees 0 minutes S & in the Longitude of 211 degrees 7 minutes W from the Meridian of Greenwissh. I have named it Point Hicks because Lieutenant Hicks was the first who discover'd this Land. To the Southward of this point we could see no land & yet it was clear in that Quarter & by our Longitude campared with that of Tasmans the body of Van diemens land ought to have bore due South from us & from the soon falliing of the Sea after the wind abated I had reason to think it did, but as we did not see it & finding the Coast to trend NE & SW or rather more to the Westward, makes me Doubtfull whether they are one land or no; however every one who compares this Journal with that of  Tasmans will be as good a judge as I am, but it is necessary to observe that I do not take the Situation of Van diemens from the Printed Charts but from the extract of Tasmans Journal published by Dirk Rembrantse ----
At noon we were in the Latitude of 37 degrees: 50 minutes & Longitude of 210 degrees 29 minutes W. The extreams of the Land extending from NW to ENE are markable point base N 20 [indecipherable].  This point rises to a round hillock very much like the Ramhead gooing into Plymouth sound on which account I called it by the same name Latitude 37 degrees: 39 minutes Longitude 10 degrees 22 minutes W.  The Variation by an Azimuth taken this morning was 8 degrees: 7 minutes E. What we have as yet seen of this land appears rather low & not very hilly the face of the Country green & Woody but the Sea shore is all a white Sand _____________
Friday 20th    In the pm & most part of the night had a fresh Gale Westerly with Squalls attended with Showers of rain. In the am had the Wind at SW with Severe weather. At 1 pm saw 3 water Spouts at once 2 were between us & the Shore& one at some distance upon our Larboard Quarterat 6 shortned sail& brot too for the Night having 56 fathoms fine sandy bottom. The Northermost land in sight bore N 621/2 E & a small Island lying close to a point on the Main base W distance 2 Leagues. This point I have named Cape Howe. It may be [indecipherable]  It may likewise be known by some round hills upon the Main, just within it having [indecipherable] too with her head off Shore we at 10 [indecipherable] & lay her head in until 4 am at which time we made Sail along shore to the Northward at 6 the North