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. 329

                                                 New Guinea

Northward depth of water 21 fathoms. At 8 Tack'd & stood to the Southward until 12 then stood at the Northward under little Sail until day light sounding from 25 to 17 fathoms. Shoal'd in as we stood to the Northward. At this time we made Sail & steer'd North in order to make the land of New Guinea from the time of our making sail until noon the depth of Water gradually decreased from 17 to 12 fathoms, a Stony & Shelly bottom. We were now by Observation in the Latitude of 8 degrees 52 minutes South which is the same Parrallel as the Southern parts of New Guinea as it is laid down in the Charts but there are only 2 points so far to the South & I reckon we are a degree to the Westward of both, & for that reason do not see the Land which trends more to the Northward. Our Course & distance sail'd since yesterday is NNW 69 Miles; Longitude in 221 degrees 27 minutes West. The Sea in many places is here cover'd with a kind of a Brown scum, such as Sailors generally call spawn. Upon our first seeing it, it alarmed us thinking we were among Shoals, but we found the Same depth of Water were it was as in other places, neither Mr Banks nor Dr Solander could tell what it was altho' they had of it to Examine _______
Wednesday 29th  Continued standing to the Northward with a fresh Gale at East by South & South East, until 6 o'clock having very irregular & uncertain soundings from 24 to 7 fathoms. At 4 we made the Land from the Masthead bearing bearing North west by North & which appear'd to be very low. At 6 it extended from West North West to North North East distance 4 or 5 Leagues. At this time haul'd close upon a wind to the Eastward until 7 o'clock then Tack'd & stood to the Southward until 12 at which time we were & stood to the Northward until 4 then lay her Head off until daylight when we again saw the Land & stood in North by West directly for it having a fresh gale at East by South. Our Soundings in the night were from 17 to 5 fathoms very irregular without any sort of Rule, with respect to our distance from the Land. At 1/2 past 6 a small low Island laying about a League from the Main bore North by West distant 5 Miles; this Island lays in the Latitude of 8 degrees 13 minutes South, Longitude 221 degrees 25 minutes West. I find it laid down in the Charts by the Name of St Bartholomew or Whermoysen. We now steer'd North West by West, West North West, West by North, West by South & South West by West as we found the Land to lay, having a Boat ahead of the Ship sounding depth of Water from 5 to 9 fathoms. When in 7, 8 or 9 fathoms we could but just see the Land from the Deck, but I did not think we were at most above 4 Leagues off because the land is exceeding low & Level & appear'd to be well cover'd with wood, one sort appeared to us to be Cocoa Nutt Trees. By the Smokes we saw in different parts as we run along shore we were assured that the Country is inhabited. At Noon we were about 3 Leagues from the land the Westermost part of which that we could see bore South 79 degrees West, our Latitude by Observation was 8 degrees 19 minutes South, Longitude 221 degrees 44 minutes West. The Island St Bartholomew bore North 74 degrees East distant 20 minutes.
Thursday 30th  Fresh breezes at SE, ESE and E by S. After steering SW by W 6 Miles we discovered on our Starboard bow & ahead a Strong appearance of Shoal Water
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