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. 331

New Guinea

Septemr 1770 [in margin]
Saturday 1st  In the PM. & most part of the night had a fresh breeze from the S. with which we kept standing in for the land NE & ENE close upon a wind until half past 6 when we Anchor'd in 4½ fam. soft muddy bottom as we have every were found upon the Coast, about an hour before we Anchd. we saw the land from the Masthead extending from the EbN to SSE all very low. at the time we Anchd. we found a small drean of a Tide setting away to the NW which continued until 2 in the morning when the Water had fell 9 feet ot better. this Tide of Ebb was then succeeded by the Flood wch. came from the SW yet we did not find the Water to rise much upon the Perpendicular or else the greatest fall of the Tide had not been well attended to in the night for at 6 when we got undersail we had no more that 3 fam. under the Ship & yet we could not see the land from the Deck. after getting undersail we stood to the Northwd. with a light breeze at E & deepned our Water by noon to 10 fam. having the Land just in sight from the Masthead to the SE. at this time were in the Latde. of 7:39S Longde. 222:42W. Port St. Augustine bore S10W distt. 15 Leags. 

Sunday 2nd  In the PM had it Calm until 2 when a light breeze sprung up at NbE & we stood in for the Land EbN until 5 at which time we got the wind from the SW a light breeze with which we steerd. NE edging in for the land having it in sight from the Deck &which I judged to be abt. 3 or 4 Leags. off being all very low land. found the Varn. to be 2:34E & a little before 8 o'clock having but little wind we Anchor'd in 7 fam. soft muddy bottom. In the afternoon & evening we saw several Sea Snakes, some of which the People in the Boat alongside took up by hand. At daylight in the Morning we got under sail & stood away to the NNE having a fresh gale at East wch. by noon brot. us into the Latde. of 7:14S Longde. 229:30W Depth of Water 13 fam. Course & distance saild since Yesterday Noon is N24E 27 Miles having at this time no land in sight, for the Land according to the Charts trends more Easterly than the Wind would permit us to Sail.

Monday 3rd  Steer'd NbE with a fresh breeze at EbN until 7 in the Evening when the wind came to SEbS with which we keept standg. to the Eastwd. close upon a wind all Night having from 17 to 10 fam. pretty even Soundgs. at daylight we saw the land extending from NbE to SE distt. about 4 Leags. we still keept standing in for it having the advantage of a fresh gale at ESE & EbS until near 9 when being about 3 or 4 Miles off  & in 3 fam. we brot. too & I went ashore in the Pinnace accompanied by Mr Banks & Dr Solander having a mind to land once in this Country before we quit it Altogether which I now am determin'd to do without delay for I found that it is only spending time to little purpose & carrying us far out of