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. 279
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[Page 279]
New Wales or east Coast of New Holland
June 1770
Leak increasing upon us but before 8AM the Pumps gain'd upon the Leak we now hove up the Bt Br [Boat Bower Anchor] but found it impossible to save the small Bower so cut it away at a whole Cable, got up the Fore Topmst & Foreyard warped the Ship to the SEt & at 11 got under sail & stood in for the land.with a light breeze at ESEt some hands empld rowing Oacham Wool etc into a Lower Steer Sail to fother the Ship others employed at the Pumps which still gained upon the leak.
Wednesday 13th. In the PM had light Airs ESE with which we kept edging in for the Land got up the main topmst & Main yard & havg got the sail ready for fothering of the Ship we put it over under the ([written in margin] Fother the Ship what [Indecipherable] her Leaks) Starbd Fore Chains where we Inspected the Ship had suffered the most & soon after the Leak decreased so as to be kept clear with one Pump with ease the fortunate circumstance gave new life to everyone onbd.
In justice to the Ship's Company I must say that no men ever behaved better than they have done on this occasion, animated by the behaviour of every Gentlemn onbd every man seem'd to have a just sence of the Danger we were in & exerted himself to the very utmost, the Ledger of Rocks or Shoal we have been upon lies in the Latd of 15o:45' & abt 6 or 7 Leags from the Main land but this is not the only shoal that lay upon this part of the Coast especially to the Northward & one which we saw to the Southwd the [Indecipherable] of which we pass over, when we had the uneven soundgs 2 hours before we Struck afast of this Shoal is always above Water & looks to be white Land, part of the one we were upon was dry at low Water & in that place consists of Sand & stones but every where else Coral Rocks, at 6 we Anchd in 17 fam abt 5 or 6 Leags from the land & one from the Shoal. At this time the Ship made about 15 Inchs Water/hour. At 6AM weighed & stood to the NMt edging in for the Land having a Gentle breeze at SSEt at 9 we past close with 2 small low Islands laying on the Latde of 15o:41 & about 4 Leags from the Main I have named the Hope Islands because we were always in hope of being able to reach these Islands, at Noon we were about 3 leags from the Land & in the Latde of 15o:37' So. The Northernmst part of the Main is in sight bore N30oWt & the above Islands extend from So30Et to So40Et in this situation had 12 fam water & sevl sandbanks without us, the Leak now decreaseth but for fear it should break out again we got