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. 347

From New Guinea to Batavia

1770
Straits of Sunda [in margin]
and the Cap, soundings from 18 to 26 fam. we had but little wind all night & having a Strong Current against us we got no further by 8 o'Clock in the morng. than under Bantam Point at this time the wind came to NE & obliged us to Anchor in 22 fam. about 2 Miles from the Shore. the above point bore NEbE distt. 1 League. here we found a strong Currt. setting to the NW. In the morning we saw the Dutch packet standing after us, but after the wind Shifted to the NE she bore away. one of the Dutch Captains told Mr Hicks yesterday that the Current sets constantly to the SW'ward & that it would continue to set so for a Month or Six Weeks longer ~ 

Thursday 4th  In the PM had the wind at NEbN which obliged us to lay fast about 6 o'Clock in the evening one of the Country Boats came alongside in which was the Commander of the Packet before mention'd he seemed to have 2 Natives for coming one to take an accot. of the Ship & the other to sell us refreshments, for in the Boat were Turtle, Fowls, Birds &tc. all of which they hold at a pretty high price, & had brought to a bad Masket as our Favre stock was not all expended. I gave a spanish Dollar for a small Turtle which weighed only 36 pounds with respect to the Ship he wanted to know her name, the Captains, the place we came last from & were bound, as I would not see him myself, I order'd that no account should be given him from whence we came, but Mr Hicks who wrote the Ships name down in his Book put down from Europe, seeing this he expressed some surprise, & said that we might write down what we pleased, for it was of no other use that for the information of such of our Country men as might pass these Streights.
At 7 o'Clock a light breeze sprung up at SSE with which we got under sail at 1 AM Anchd. again having not wind to stem the Current which we found to run 3 Knotts at 2 o'Clock we weighed again but finding that we lost ground we were obliged to Anchor in 18 fam. the Island Pulo Morack which lies close under the Shore 3 Miles to the Westward of Bantam Point bore SEbS distce. 1½ Miles Latde. observed 5.55 S.

Friday 5th  At 5 in the PM we weighed with a light breeze at SWbS which continued not long before it fell Calm & obliged us to Anchor again, at 1 o'Clock we weigh'd with the Land wind at SSE which died away in the Morning, & the Currt. running strong against us we anchor'd in 17 fam.  a little before this a Proe came alongside wherein was a dutch Officer who came upon the same businass as the other he sent me down a Printed Paper in English containing 9 Articles or Questions of which this is a Copy ~ 

The Commanders & Officers of the Ships where this Paper may be presented, will be please to answer on the following Questions / Viz /
1. To