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. 318

                         New Wales or East Coast of New Holland

New Holland & New Guinea are 2 seperate Lands or Islands which unto this day hath been a doubtful point with Geographers, the NE entrance of this passage or Strait lies in the Latitude of 10 degrees 27 minutes South & in the Longitude of 218 degrees 36 minutes West from the Meridian of Greenwich. It is form'd by the Main or the northern extremity of New Holland on the SE & by a Congeries of Islands to the NW which I named Prince of Wales's Islands. It is very Probable that the Islands extend quite to New Guinea they are of Various Extent both for height & Circuit & many of them seem'd to be indifferently well Cloathed with wood etc & from the smokes we saw, some if not all of them must be inhabited; it is also very probable that among these Islands are as good if not better passages than the one we have come thro'. Altho one need hardly wish for a better was the access to it from the Eastward less dangerous, but the difficulty will remain until some better way is found out than the one we came, which no doubt may be done was it ever to become an object to be looked for. The northern Extent of the Main or outer reef which limits or bounds the Shoals to the Eastward seems to be the only thing wanting to Clear up this Point & this was a thing I had neither time nor inclination to go about, having been already sufficiently harrass'd with dangers without going to look for more ______________
      This Passage which I have named Endeavour Straits after the Name of the Ship, it is in length NE & SW 10 Leagues & about 5 Leagues broad except at the NE entrance where it is only 2 Miles broad by reason of several small Islands, which lay there one of which called Possession Island is of Moderate height & Circuit; this we left between us and the Main passing between 2 Small round Islands which lay NW 2 Miles from it. There are also 2 Small low Islands called Wallice's Isles laying in the Middle of the SW entrance which we left to the Southward, the depth of Water we found in the Straits was from 4 to 9 fathoms. Every were good Anchorage only about 2 Leagues to the Northward of Wallice's Islands is a Bank whereon is not more than 3 fathoms at low Water but probable there might be found more was it sought for. I have not been particular in describing this Strait no more than I have been in pointing out the respective situations of the Islands, Shoals etc on the Coast of New Wales for these I refer to the Chart where they are delineated with all the accuracy that Circumstances would admit of. With respect to the Shoals that lay upon this Coast I must observe for the benefit of those who may come after one that I do not believe the one 1/2 of them are laid down in my Chart, for it would be Absurd to suppose that we could see or find them all, & the same thing may in some Measure
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