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. 351
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Remarkable Occurrences in Batavia Road ~
as may enable him to proceed on his Passage home to England ~
Dated onboard His Brittannick Majestys Bark Endeavour in Batavia Road the 11th of October 1770
James Cook
In the morning I went on shore myself & had the foregoing request Translated into Dutch by a Scotch Gentleman a Merchant here
Octobr. 1770
Friday 12th At 5 o'Clock PM I was interduced to the Governor General who received me very Politely & told me that I should have every thing I wanted & that in the Morning my request should be laid before the Council where I was desir'd to attend ~
About 9 o'Clock in the Evening we had much rain with some very heavy claps of Thunder one of which carried away a Dutch Indiamans Main Mast by the Deck & split it, the Main topmast & Topgallantmast all to slivers she had had a Iron Spindle at the Maintopgallant Masthead which had first attracted the Lightning the ship lay about 2 Cables lengths from us, & we were struck with the Thunder at the same time & in all probability we should have shared the same fate as the Dutchman had it not been for the Electrical Chain which we had but just before got up this carried the Lightning or Electrical matter over the side clear of the Ship, the Shock was so great as to shake the whole ship very sencibly this instance alone is sufficient to recommend these Chains to all Ships whatever & that of the Dutchman ought to Caution People from having Iron Spindles at the Mastheads.
In the morning I went onshore to the Council Chamber & laid my request before the Governour & Council, who gave me for answer that I should have every thing I wanted.
Saturday 13th Received onboard a Cask of Arrack & some Greens for the Ships Company ~
Sunday 14th Early this morning a ship sail'd from hence for Holland by which I had just time to write 2 or 3 lines to Mr Stephens Secratary of the Admiralty to acquaint him of our Arrival, after whch. I went onshore & waited upon the Shabander who has the directions of the Town, Post &tc. to get an order to the Superintendant at Onrust to receive us at that Island, but this I was told would not be ready before