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. 296
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[Page 296]
New Wales or East Coast of New Holland
August 1770 where we lay, at least not in the Dry season which is at this time, however we were very well supply'd with water by springs which were not far off
Sunday 5th In the PM had a Gentle breeze at SEt & Clear wear as I did not intend to weigh until' the morning I sent all the Boats to the Reef to g[et] what Turtle & Shell fish they could, at low water from the Masthead I took a view of the Shoals & could see several laying along way without this one apart of several of them appearing above water but as it appear'd pretty clear of Shoals to the NEt of the Turtle Reef: I came to the Resolution to stretch out that way close upon a wind because if we found no Passage we could always return back the way we went, In the Evening the Boats return'd with one Turtle, a sting ray & as many large Clams as came to 11/2 [lb?] a Man in each of these Clams about 2[lb?] of Meat added to this we Caught in the night several Sharks, early in the morning I sent the Pinnace & Yawl again to the Reef as I did not intend to weigh until' half Ebb. at which time the Shoals began to appear, before 8 it came on to blow & I made the Signal for the Boats to come onboard which they did & brought with them one Turtle, we afterwards began to heave, but the wind Freshening obliged us to bear away again & lay fast.
Monday 6th. Winds at SE at 2 o'Clock PM it fell pretty Moderate & we got under sail & stood out upon a wind NEbE leaving the Turtle Reef to windward, having the Pinnace ahead sounding we had not stood out long before we discovered shoals ahead & on both bows, at half past 4 o'Clock having run off 8 Miles the Pinnace made the Signal for Shoal water in a place where we little Expected it upon this we Tack'd & stood on & off while the Pinnace stretched farther to the Eastwd but as night was approaching I thought it safest to anchor which we accordingly did in 20 fam water a Muddy bottom Endeavour River bore So52Wt. Cape Bedford WbN½N distt 5 Leags. The Northermost land in sight which made like and Island No. & a Shoal a small sandy part of which appear'd above water NE distance 2 or 3 Miles, in standing off from this Turtle Reef to this place our soundings were from 14 to 20 fathoms but where the Pinnace was about a Mile farther to the ENEt. where no more than 4 or 5 feet water rocky ground & yet this did not appear to us on the Ship. In the Morn'g we had a Strong Gale from the SEt that instead of weighing as we intended we were obliged to bear away more Cable & to strike Top Gallant yards.