Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0343
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[Page 343]
239.
August 1770 Sail out of the Reef
the sun had dryd them so well that our seamen eat them heartily he saw also two spots clear of grass which had lately been dug up they were about 7 feet long & shaped like a grave for which indeed he took them.
13. Ship stood out for the opening we had seen in the reef & about 2 O'Clock passd it it was about 1/2 a mile wide as soon as the ship was well without it we had no ground with100 fathm of Line so became in an instant quite easy being once more in the main Ocean & consequently freed from all our fears of shoals &c.
14. For the first time these three months we were this day out of sight of Land to our no small satisfaction that very Ocean which had formerly been look'd upon with terror by (maybe) all of us was now the Assylum we had long wishd for & at last found Satisfaction was clearly painted in every mans face the day was fine & the trade wind brisk before which we steerd to the Northward the well grown waves which followd the ship sure sign of no land being in our neighbourhood were contemplated with the greatest satisfaction notwithstanding we plainly