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. 339

From New Guinea to Batavia

Septr. 1770
Savu [in margin]
lies N½E & ½W distt. about 3 or 4 Leags. from each other. At the W end of the Passage between Rotte & Anaboa are 2 Small Islands, the one lays near the Rotte shore & the other off the SW point of Anaboa. there is a good Channel between the 2 of 5 or 6 Miles broad which we came thro' ~ Being now clear of the Islands we steer'd a W course all night until 6 AM when we unexpectedly saw an Island bearing WSW for by most of the Maps we had onboard we were to the Southwd. of all the Islds. that lay between Timor & Java at least there were none laid down so near to Timor in this Latde. by almost one half which made me at first think it a new discovery, but in tis I was mistaken. We now steer'd directly for it & by 10 o'Clock were close in with the N side, where we saw Houses, Cocoa Nutt Trees, & Paddocks of Cattle grazing. these were Temptations hardly to be withstood by people in our situation, especially such as were but in a very indifferent State of Health, & I may say mind too, for in some this last was worse that the other. since I refused to touch at the Island of Timor, whereupon I thought I could not do less than to try to Procure some refreshments here as there appeared to be plenty. with this View we hoisted out the Pinnace in which I sent Lieutt. Gore in shore to see if there were any Convenient place to land, sending some trifles along with him to give to the Natives in case he saw any. Mr Gore landed in a small sandy cove near to some Houses & was meet on the beach by 8 or 10 of the People, who from both their behaviour & what they had about them shew'd  that they had Commerce with Europeans, upon Mr Gore's returning with this report & likewise that there was no Anchorage for the ship I sent him away again with both money & goods to try to Purchase some refreshments while we keept standing on & off with the Ship at Noon we were about a Mile from the Shore of the Island which extend from SE to WNW Latde. in 10:27  Longde. 237:31W.

Tuesday 18th  As soon as Mr Gore landed he was meet on the beach by sevl. People both Horse & Foot who gave him to understand that there was a Bay to Leeward where we could Anchor & likewise get refreshmts. upon Mr Gore's return with this intelligence we bore away for the Bay in which we Anchd. at 7 o'Clock in 38 fam. water Clean sandy bottom about a Mile from shore the N point of the Bay bore N30E 2½ Miles & the S point or West end of the Island bore S63W. Two hours before we Anchd. we saw Dutch Colours hoisted in a Village which stands about a Mile inland & at day light in the Morning the same Colours were hoisted on the beach abreast of the Ship. by this I was no longer in doubt but what here was a Dutch settlement & accordingly sent Lt. Gore ashore to wait upon the Governr. or chief Person residing here to acquaint him with the reasons that induced us to touch at this Island. upon Mr Gore's landing we could perceive that he was received by a Guard of the Natives & not Dutch Troops & Conducted up