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. 287

[Page 287]
New Wales or East Coast of New Holland
July 1770 Saturday 7th ([written in margin:] Endeavour River)
Fresh breezes at SEt & fair wear, employed getting onboard Coals, Ballast etc & caulking the Ship a work that could not be done while she lay aground, the Armr & his Mate are still empld at the Forge making & repairg sundry Articles in the Iron way.
Sunday 8th. Gentle breeze at SEt & clear wear, early I sent the master in a Boat out to Sea to sound again about the Shoals because the ansr he had given of the Channel before mentioned was to me by no means Satisfactory, likewise sent some hands to haul the Sean who caught 80lb[?] of fish, the rest of the People I gave lease to go into the Country.
Monday 9th. in the Day Do Winds but in the night Calm PM Mr Gore & Mr Banks return'd having met with nothing remarkable They were abt 3 or 4 Leags up in the Country without finding hardly any Variation either in the Soil or Produce. In the Evening the Master return'd having been several Leags out at Sea & at that Distance off saw Shoals without him & was of the opinion there was no getting out to Sea that way, in his return he touched upon one of the Shoals the same as he was upon the first time he was out, he here found a great number of Turtle, 3 of which he caught weighing 791 lb[?] This occasioned my sending him out again this morning provided with proper geer for Striking them he having before nothing but a Boat Hook - Carpenters Smith & Cooper at their respective Employmt, & the Seamen empld getting onbd stores & ballast etc, This day all hands feasted upon Turtle for the First time.
Tuesday 10th. Winds & wear as yesterday employd hoisting onbd & towing away the ground tier of Water, PM saw 7 or 8 of the Natives on the So side of the River & 2 of them came down upon the Sandy Point opposite the Ship but as soon as I put off in a Boat in order to speak with them they ran away as fast as they could. At 11 Mr Banks, who had gone out to Sea with Mr Molineux the Master, returned in his own Small Boat & gave but a Very bas ansr of our Turtle catchers, at the time he left them which was abt 6 o'Clock they had not got one nor were they likely to get any & yet the Master was so obstinate that he would not return which obliged one to send Mr Gore out in the Yawl this morning to order the Boat & People in, in Case they could not be employ'd there to Some Advantage In the AM 4 of the Natives came down to the Sandy Point on the North side of the Harbour having along with them a small wooden Canoe with Outriggers in which they seem'd to be empld striking fish etc some were for going over in a Boat to them, but this I would not Suffer but let them alone without seeming to take any Notice of them at length 2 of them came in the Canoe so near the Ship as to take some things we throw'd them after this