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. 293

[Page 293]
New Wales or East Coast of New Holland
July 1770 ([written in margin:] Endeavour River) what the Ship Draw’d after this I sent the Yawl to look for Turtle, as those we had got before were nearly all expended, about 8 the Sea breeze set in again which put an end to our Sailing this day, after which I sent the Pinnace to haul the Sean, she return’d with only 20[lb?] of Fish.
Monday 30th Winds at SEt a fresh gale & fair wear in the AM, the remainder Hazey with rain but the winds the more modte kept in the SEt quarter.
Tuesday 31st Fresh Gs at SEt & hazey with rain all PM & most pt of the Night at 2AM I had thoughts of trying to Warp the Ship out of the Harbr but upon my going first out in a Boat I found it blow too fresh for such an Attempt.
August Wednesday 1st Strong Gs from the SEt with Squalls attended with Rain PM the Yawl came in with 2 Rays, which together weighed 265 [lb?], it blow’d too hard all the time they were out for striking Turtle Carpentrs employd overhauling the Pumps all of which we find in a state of decay, & this the Carpr says is owing to the Sap having been left on which in time has decay’d the sound wood one of them is quite useless, & was so rotten when hoisted up as to drop to peices, however I cannot complain of a Leaky Ship for the most water She makes is not quite an Inch an Hour.
Thursday 2d Winds and wear as yesterday or rather more Stormy, we have now no Success in the Sein fishing hardly getting above 20 or 30 [lbs?] a day.
Friday 3d Strong breezes & hazey until 6AM when it moderated & we unmoor’d hove up the Anchor & began to Warp out but the Ship tailing upon the Sand on the No side of the River the Tide of Ebb making out & a fresh breeze setting in we were obliged to desist & moor the Ship again just within the Barr.
Saturday 4th In the PM having pretty modte wear I orderd the Coasting Anchor and Cable to be laid without the barr, to be ready to warp out by, that we might not loose the least opportunity that might Offer; for laying in Port spends time to no purpose, consumes our Provisions, of which we are very Short in many Articles, and we have yet a long Passage to make to the East Indies through an unknown and perhaps dangerous Sea; these Circumstances consider’d, make me very Anxious of getting to Sea. The wind continued moderate all night, and at 5 a.m. it fell calm; this gave us an opportunity to warp out. About 7 we got under sail, having a light Air from the Land, which soon died away, and was Succeeded by the Sea breezes from South-East by South, with which we stood off to Sea East by North, having the Pinnace ahead sounding. The Yawl I sent to the Turtle bank to take up the Net that was left there; but as the wind freshen’d we got out before her, and a little After Noon Anchor’d in 15 fathoms water,