The next thing to be done was to decide the course to be taken towards
England. Cook would have liked to have returned by the Horn and thus
settle the existence or non-existence of a large body of land in the
South Pacific, but the time of year and the condition of his ship
suggested that would be to court disaster. The same reasons held good
against a direct course to the Cape of Good Hope, with the added
disadvantage of there being no probability of any fresh discoveries, as
that part of the Ocean had been frequently traversed.
"It was therefore resolved to return by way of the East Indies by the
following route. Upon leaving this coast to the Westward until we fall in
with the East coast of New Holland, and then to follow the direction of
that coast to the Northward or what other direction it might take us,
until we arrive at its Northern extremity; and if it should be found
impracticable then to Endeavour to fall in with the Land or Islands
discovered by Quiros."
This extract from Cook's Journal shows that he made no claim to the
discovery of Australia, and settles the stupid story that his connection
with the discovery of the east coast was an accident. It was a course
laid down after thorough consideration of the best charts, very poor at
best, in his possession.
BOTANY BAY.
The good ship Endeavour got under way on 31st March 1770, with a
favourable wind and clear sky, heading a little north of west. On the
16th a change in the birds denoted the neighbourhood of land, and after a
touch of contrary wind, on 19th April 1770 Lieutenant Hicks sighted land
extending from north-east to west, distant five or six leagues. This was
the looked-for east coast of New Holland, and the ship was at the
entrance of Bass Straits, but on his chart Cook shows by a dotted line
that he felt uncertain whether van Diemen's Land was joined to New
Holland or no. The low hill which was first seen was named Point Hicks
after its discoverer, and its position is given as 38 degrees 0 minutes
South, 211 degrees 7 minutes West. Three waterspouts were seen a short
distance from the ship, and are remarkable as being the first ones
mentioned in the log. The course was altered to the north, and the
country is described as rather low, not very hilly, covered with green
woods, and the shore of white sand. Cape Howe was named the following
day, and the position fixed as 37 degrees 28 minutes South, 210 degrees 3
minutes West, which Wharton says is almost exact. The country now
appeared to be improving in character, and smoke proved the existence of
inhabitants, but none were visible till Cape Dromedary and Bateman's Bay
were passed, when some were seen on the shore, but too far away for
observation. Cook wished to land at Jervis Bay, but the wind was against
him, and he could not afford time to beat in. An attempt was
unsuccessfully made at a place that has been identified a little north of
Five Islands, near Illawarra, but the surf was too heavy. At daylight on
Sunday, 29th April, a bay was discovered, and the Master was sent in to
sound the entrance, the ship following closely, and soon the Endeavour
anchored for the first time in Australian waters, about two miles within
the entrance of Sting Ray, now Botany, Bay. (For note see below.) The
time when the name of the Bay was changed has been much disputed, but it
is probable it was done some time after leaving the place. It was called
Sting Ray on account of the big haul of that fish made soon after their
arrival and the name stands in all the logs; Banks refers to it under
that name in a general description of the country, written when leaving
Cape York. Cook is however, decisive, for under date 6th May he says:
"The great quantity of plants Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander found in this
place occasioned my giving it the name of Botany Bay."
On coming to an anchor, Cook, Banks, and Tupia went on shore, and Canon
Bennett, a second cousin of Mrs. Cook's, and one who knew her personally,
relates that the family legend was that on reaching the shore Cook
ordered the midshipman to "Jump out, Isaac," and Isaac Smith (afterwards
Admiral) also a cousin of Mrs. Cook's, was the first Englishman to set
his foot on the soil of New South Wales. The few natives who were near
ran away, excepting two, who came forward to oppose any landing. A musket
was fired over them, and they retired to where they had left their
spears, and then one threw a stone at the boat, and as they were too far
away for any serious damage to be done, Cook fired a charge of small shot
at him. He then ran off to a small hut near, picked up a wooden shield,
and returned to take up his position alongside his comrade, and they
threw a couple of spears, receiving a second discharge of small shot in
return, which caused them to retire slowly. As Banks, suspicious of some
gummy substance on the points of the spears, suggested poison, they were
not followed up. The huts, found near the landing-place, were constructed
of sticks covered with pieces of bark somewhat similar to those seen in
Tierra del Fuego. Some children found carefully covered up were left
undisturbed, but forty or fifty spears were taken, and payment in the
shape of beads, cloth, nails, etc., was left, but still untouched, on
visiting the camp the next morning. The canoes from which the natives
were seen fishing are described by Cook as the worst he ever saw, being
merely sheets of bark tied with withies at the end and kept open in the
middle by a stick.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining water, and whilst
the crew were procuring it, Cook made a survey of the harbour. He
describes the country as lightly timbered, with a sandy soil growing a
plentiful crop of coarse grass, of which a quantity was cut for the
sheep. The soil was interspersed with rocks and swamps, but at the head
of the bay appeared richer. A few natives were seen, who ran away when
observed, and though one or two spears were thrown no damage was done to
any one. Large heaps of oyster, mussel, and cockle shells were found,
amongst them, says Cook, "being some of the largest oyster shells I ever
saw." An account, said to have been obtained from the blacks, published
in a work on Australian discovery (anonymous, Sydney), agrees as far as
it goes with those of Cook and Banks, and it is almost unnecessary to say
the ship was at first taken for a large bird.
SUTHERLAND'S DEATH.
Whilst here, a seaman named Forbes (Forby, in the Muster Roll)
Sutherland, died of consumption, from which he had suffered throughout
the voyage, was buried on shore, and the point named Point Sutherland in
his memory. The anonymous pamphlet referred to above, says that Cook does
not give the cause of Sutherland's death, and that he had been fatally
wounded by the blacks whilst trying to secure a metal plate he had found
affixed to a tree, recording that the Dutch had previously been on the
spot. The pamphlet goes on to say that Cook suppressed these facts in
order to have the credit of being the first discoverer, but that the
plate had been secured by some one and deposited in the British Museum.
Unfortunately, Cook does give the cause of Sutherland's death, and the
plate is not in the British Museum, nor has it ever been heard of there.
Before leaving, an inscription was cut on a tree near the watering place,
giving the ship's name and date; the English colours were displayed on
shore every day during their stay, but they could not establish any
friendly intercourse with the blacks. A plate has since been attached to
the rocks about fifteen feet above high water, and as near as possible to
the supposed place of landing.
After leaving Botany Bay the coast was followed up to the north, and Cook
noted an "entrance" which he thought might prove a safe anchorage, to
which he gave the name of Port Jackson, after Mr. George Jackson, one of
the Secretaries to the Admiralty. Within this entrance is now the city of
Sydney, and it was to this place that Captain Phillip removed his
headquarters when he had discovered the unsuitability of Botany Bay for
settlement. Broken Bay, named from the number of small islands therein,
was passed, and the voyage was rendered very slow by the light northerly
winds, and passing Cape Hawke, he found the set of the current had placed
him twelve miles in advance, when reckoned by the log, of his real
position given by observation.
Almost the only thing to be seen beyond the outline of the coast was the
constantly recurring smoke; one point received the name of Smoky Cape on
account of the great quantity seen in its vicinity. Cook, of course, was
unaware that these "smokes" were probably, many of them, signals from one
party of blacks to another of the arrival of something strange on the
coast. That these "smokes" are used by the blacks as a means of
communication is a well recognised fact, and the news they can convey by
this means is perfectly astonishing to a white man.
The country appeared to increase in height with:
"an agreeable variety of Hills, Ridges, and Valleys, and large plains all
clothed with wood, which to all appearance is the same as I have before
mentioned as we could discover no visible difference in the soil."
After escaping a reef off Point Danger they discovered a bay, which Cook
called Morton Bay after the Earl of Morton, P.R.S.; now wrongly spelt as
Moreton Bay. Here, from the colour of the water, they supposed a river
emptied into the sea; the surmise was correct, for they were at the mouth
of the Brisbane River. At the same time some curiously-shaped hills were
given the name of the Glasshouses, from their resemblance to the
buildings in which glass is manufactured, and the resemblance is most
striking.
After rounding Breaksea Spit, Cook found himself in a large bay, and
conjectured, from the birds and the direction of their flight, that there
was fresh water to the south-west; and rightly, for here the Mary River
enters Hervey's Bay. On 23rd May they landed for the second time, and
Cook says this was "visibly worse than the last place," that is Botany
Bay. They managed to shoot a bustard of 17 1/2 pounds, and Banks says it
was "as large as a good turkey, and far the best we had eaten since we
left England." It was so much appreciated that its name was conferred on
Bustard Head and Bustard Bay. This bird is known in Australia as the
Plain Turkey. Oysters of good quality were also obtained, and Banks made
the personal acquaintance of the green tree ant and the Australian
mosquito, neither of which were appreciated.
CAPE CAPRICORN.
On 24th May a moderately high, white, barren-looking point was passed,
which being found by observation to be directly under the tropic was
named Cape Capricorn, and soon after the mouth of the Fitzroy was
crossed, with the remark from Cook that from general appearances he
believed there was a river in the immediate vicinity. Soundings becoming
very irregular, he ran out between the Keppel Islands, on one of which
natives were seen. Cape Townshend was named after Charles Townshend, one
of the Lords of the Admiralty when the Endeavour left England, and not
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as stated by Wharton.
Rounding the point into Shoalwater Bay they had to haul sharp up to the
west to get within the Northumberland Islands, and the water was found to
be so shallow that they anchored and sounded from the boats, gradually
working nearer in, as Cook was anxious to clean the ship's bottom, which
was very foul; and he desired to take advantage of the full moon in these
dangerous waters. They landed to take some observations and look for
water. The observations were unsatisfactory, for the compass was
unreliable, a fault attributed to the ironstone in the neighbourhood, of
which signs were very evident, and water was not to be found. The country
is reported on as follows: "No signs of fertility is to be seen upon the
Land; the soil of the uplands is mostly a hard, reddish clay."
Passing Cape Hillsborough, they entered Whitsunday Passage, described by
Cook as "one continued safe harbour, besides a number of small bays and
coves on each side, where ships might lay as it were in a Basin." The
land on both sides was green and pleasant-looking, but on account of the
moonlight Cook could not waste any time in landing.
Entering Cleveland Bay, the compass was again very much disturbed; the
cause was found to be Magnetical, now Magnetic, Island, lying just off
the present Port of Townsville. Blacks were seen, near Rockingham Bay,
through the glasses; they were said to be very dark and destitute of
clothing, but no communication with them was possible.
ON THE ROCKS.
On 10th June, after leaving a small bay north of Cape Grafton, where they
had searched in vain for a watering place, the watch had just turned in,
the lead had been cast and given seventeen fathoms, when the unfortunate
ship brought all hands on deck, with a crash on a sunken rock. Soundings
taken all round showed her to be on the very edge of a coral reef. Making
but little water, an attempt was made to warp her off, but
unsuccessfully. Steps were then taken to lighten her; decayed stores, oil
jars, staves, casks, ballast, and her six quarter-deck guns were thrown
overboard, some forty to fifty tons, but with no effect. The tide now
rising, the leaks increased rapidly, two pumps being kept constantly at
work. Thinking things could only go from bad to worse, Cook determined to
heave her off at all hazards, and every one who could be spared from the
pumps was sent to the capstan or windlass, and at length, after a stay of
twenty-three hours on the rocks, she was hove into deep water. Now,
however, it was a case of all hands to the pumps, and for a time it
seemed as if they were slowly gaining on the in-rushing water, but
suddenly there was an increase reported in the well, casting a shadow of
gloom over all, but not for an instant staying the steady beat of the
pumps. Shortly it was discovered that a fresh hand had been sent to the
well and had sounded from a different mark than his predecessor,
accounting for the sixteen to eighteen inches difference in the depth of
water reported. This discovery acted like a charm: each one redoubled his
exertions, and by morning they had gained considerably on the leak, so
sail was made, and they slowly crawled in towards the land.
Midshipman Monkhouse had been on a ship which was leaking at the rate of
forty-eight inches per hour, and had seen the operation called
"fothering" so successfully performed on her, that, without further
repair, she had sailed from Virginia to London. This being brought to
Cook's ear, he gave Monkhouse the charge of carrying out a similar
experiment. A studding sail was taken, on which oakum and wool was
lightly sewn and smothered with dirt; it was then lowered over the bows
and dragged by ropes over the place where the worst of the leak was
situated, and there secured, with the result, according to Banks, that in
a quarter of an hour after it was in position they were able to pump the
ship clear, and Cook says one pump was sufficient to keep her free.
Of the conduct of the crew, Cook says:
"In justice to the ship's company, I must say that no men ever behaved
better than they have done on this occasion; animated by the behaviour of
every Gentleman on board, every man seem'd to have a just sense of the
Danger we were in, and exerted himself to the very utmost."
Banks adds his testimony:
"Every man exerts his utmost for the preservation of the ship. The
officers during the whole time never gave an order that did not show them
to be perfectly composed and unmoved by the circumstances, however
dreadful they might appear."
A point off which the reef was situated was given the suggestive name of
Cape Tribulation, and some small islands near, Hope Islands, because, as
Cook says, he hoped, at the time of their greatest danger, they might be
able to reach them. What a prospect to hope for! No possibility of ever
seeing a friendly sail, and but little probability of ever being able to
reach a civilised port.
THE ENDEAVOUR RIVER.
A boat sent off to search for some spot where temporary repairs could be
executed, soon returned and reported a small river had been found which
appeared suitable. This was the Endeavour River, and into it the ship was
safely taken, and deep water being found close to the bank, a stage was
rigged, and most of the stores and ballast were taken on shore; a
hospital was erected for the sick, "which amounted at this time to some
eight or nine afflicted with different disorders, but none very
dangerously ill." Green and Tupia were showing symptoms of scurvy, but
the remainder appear to have been free from it.
As soon as the ship was sufficiently lightened she was warped a little
further up the river, and at the top of the tide her bows were hauled
well into the bank, so that when the tide fell they were able to examine
the leak. The damage was found to be very serious; the rock had cut
through four planks into the timbers, and three other planks had been
badly injured. The manner in which the ship had been injured was "hardy
credible, scarce a splinter was to be seen, but the whole was cut away as
if done with a blunt-edged tool." A piece of the rock was found wedged in
the hole, and had greatly assisted in arresting the influx of water. The
sheathing and false keel were very badly damaged, but it was believed
that she was not much injured aft, as she made but little water when once
the main wound was dry.
At what is believed to be the exact spot at which the Endeavour was
beached, a monument has been erected by the inhabitants of Cooktown, a
seaport now at the mouth of the river.
There being no danger from the natives the crew were allowed as much
liberty as possible, and a good supply of fish, a few pigeons and a small
quantity of vegetables, in the shape of yam tops, cabbage palm, and wild
plantains, had a very beneficial effect on their health. The longitude
was calculated from an observation of "the Emersion of Jupiter's First
Satelite," as 214 degrees 42 minutes 30 seconds West, which Wharton
remarks on as being an excellent observation, the true longitude being
214 degrees 45 minutes West.
INCENDIARISM BY BLACKS.
On 4th July the good ship was afloat again, so well repaired that only
about an inch of water per hour was taken in, easily kept under by the
pumps. She was laid over on a sandbank on the opposite side of the river
and more carefully examined, the sheathing being found to be very badly
damaged. The carpenter, in whom Cook had every confidence, reported that,
with the means at his disposal, he could not make a satisfactory job, but
he thought they might push on to some place where greater facilities
could be obtained. She was therefore taken alongside the staging, the
stores and ballast replaced, everything got ready for the prosecution of
the voyage, and the Master sent off in the pinnace to look for a passage
to the north-east; but was unsuccessful. He was again sent out, but again
reported badly; the shoals appeared to get worse the further he went. He,
however, brought back with him three turtles weighing about 800 pounds,
which were most welcome as the crew had now been some months without
fresh meat; a second trip to where these were caught resulted in getting
three or four more, and a large supply of shell-fish. They had made
several attempts to get on good terms with the few natives they had seen,
and on one occasion two or three who were fishing had a long and animated
conversation with Tupia, in which neither party could understand the
other, though one or two were persuaded to visit the camp. Shortly before
the last of the stores were taken in, Cook and Banks received friendly
overtures from a small party, and ten of them visited the ship. They were
offered various gifts, but seemed to set little value on anything except
the turtles. They made signs they wanted them, and when they found these
signs ignored, attempted to carry off two, and when their aim was
frustrated, went ashore to where some of the crew were at work. One of
them took a lighted stick from under the pitch kettle, and, making a wide
circuit round the place, fired the grass as he ran. Fortunately there
were not many things left ashore, and the powder had just been safely got
on board, so the most serious damage appears to have been the premature
roasting of a young pig. They then went off to where others of the crew
were washing, and drying the fishing nets, and another attempt was made
to burn the grass; but a charge of small shot caused a retreat, and on
their way they set fire to the undergrowth to cover their repulse. Banks
was greatly impressed with the manner in which the grass and undergrowth
burnt, and declared he would never pitch tents again without first
burning the grass for some distance round.
Gore, Banks, and three men made a few days' excursion up the river, but,
with the exception of a kangaroo being shot by Gore, the first ever
killed by a European, they met with nothing worth noting. On 18th July
Cook, Banks, and Solander went up a hill some six or eight miles along
the coast to see if they could form any idea of the general run of the
coast and the surrounding reefs, and Cook says: "In whatever direction we
looked, it [the sea] was covered with shoals as far as the eye could
see."
Before leaving the river, Banks gives some notes as to the country, and
puts it down as "in every respect the most barren country we have yet
seen." The animals were not numerous; he gives kangaroo, wolf (the dingo
or native dog), bats (flying foxes), wild cats (dasyurus), and opossums.
Amongst the birds, several kinds of duck, shags, pelicans, crows, and
flock pigeons, all, with the exception of the last, difficult to shoot.
Of the crow he says: "A crow in England though in general sufficiently
wary is, I must say, a fool to a New Holland crow." None of the beasts or
birds seem to have come amiss to the pot; all that was necessary was the
meat should not be salt, "that alone was sufficient to make it a
delicacy." He quotes the description given by a sailor of an animal he
saw:
"It was as black as the devil and had wings, indeed I took it for the
devil, or I might have catched it, for it crawled away very slowly
through the grass."
After some little trouble Banks discovered this to have been a large bat
(flying fox). Of the insect life seen, he was particularly struck by the
white ants and their nests, and formed a very respectful opinion of the
mosquito.
Cook's opinion agrees fairly well with that of Banks, but on the whole he
thought the east coast was not so barren and desolate as Dampier had
described the west coast, and adds:
"We are to consider that we see this country in the pure state of nature;
the Industry of Man has had nothing to do with any part of it, and yet we
find all such things as Nature hath bestowed upon it, in a flourishing
state. In this Extensive Country, it can never be doubted, but what most
sorts of grain, Fruit, roots, etc., of every kind would flourish here
were they once brought hither, planted and cultivated by the hands of
Industry; and here are provender for more cattle, at all seasons of the
year, than ever can be brought into the country."
This is a fair example of the observations and deductions to be found
scattered through Cook's Journals, and an improvement on the would-be
scientific and classical rubbish put into his mouth by his editors.
A MASTHEAD WATCH.
At last, on 4th August, they got away from the Endeavour River, only to
find themselves surrounded by difficulties. Cook or one of the other
officers was continually at the masthead on the look-out, and at length,
by keeping very close in shore, they managed to creep past Cape Flattery,
and thought the worst was over, but a landing at Point Lookout showed a
very unsatisfactory prospect. In hopes of getting a better view Cook went
out to Lizard Island, and from there could see, far away to the east, the
white breakers on the Great Barrier Reef. This island, on which the only
living things to be seen were lizards, they found, from the large piles
of shells and remains of fires, was visited periodically by the blacks; a
remarkable voyage for their miserable canoes.
Having only three months' supplies at short allowance left, Cook, after a
consultation with his officers, made out through an opening in the
Barrier Reef that he had seen from Lizard Island, and observes:
"Having been entangled among Islands and Shoals more or less ever since
the 26th May, in which time we have sailed 360 leagues by the Lead,
without ever having a Leadsman out of the chains, when the ship was under
sail, a Circumstance that perhaps never happened to any ship before, and
yet it was here absolutely necessary."
But their satisfaction in getting outside was diminished when it was
found that the increased working of the ship's timbers necessitated the
continual use of one pump.
Cook was afraid that being forced outside the Barrier Reef he would be
unable to put to the proof the opinion he had formed that New Guinea and
New Holland were not joined. He did not know till after his return to
England, that the point had already been settled in 1606, by Louis Vaez
de Torres, and he readily yields the honour of the discovery in the
Introduction to his Second Voyage. The log of Torres's voyage was lost
for many years, and was found at Manilla, when that place was taken by
Admiral Cornish in 1762. Cook had with him a copy of De Brye's Voyages,
published in 1756, which contained three charts that he found to be
"tolerably good" with regard to New Guinea, and he evidently formed the
opinion that both the Spaniards and the Dutch had circumnavigated that
island.
"I always understood, before I had a sight of these maps, that it was
unknown whether or no New Holland and New Guinea was one continued land,
and so it is said in the very History of Voyages these maps are bound up
in. However, we have now put this wholly out of dispute; but as I believe
it was known before, but not publickly, I claim no other merit than the
clearing up of a doubtful point."
With this question of New Guinea and New Holland in view, he again made
to the west, sighting the Barrier again on 15th August, and on the
following morning, the wind having changed in the night, the breakers
were heard very distinctly. The lead gave no bottom at 140 fathoms, but
at daybreak the reef was not a mile away, and they found themselves in a
dead calm, rapidly drifting with the current towards the breakers. The
yawl and long-boat were got out, the pinnace being under repair, and the
sweeps were used from the gun-room ports. By six o'clock she was heading
north again, but:
"not above 80 or 100 yards from the breakers. The same sea that washed
the side of the ship rose in a breaker prodigiously high the very next
time it did rise, so that between us and destruction was only a dismal
valley, the breadth of one wave, and even now no ground could be felt
with 120 fathoms."
A PERILOUS POSITION.
The carpenter had by this time fastened a temporary streak on the
pinnace, and it was sent off to assist in towing. Cook had almost given
up hope, but he says:
"In this truly terrible situation, not one man ceased to do his utmost,
and that with as much calmness as if no danger had been near."
Admiral Wharton draws special attention to the fact that in the very
height of the danger, Green, Charles Clerke, and Forwood, the gunner,
were engaged in taking a Lunar for the longitude. Green notes:
"These observations were very good, the limbs of the sun and moon very
distinct, and a good horizon. We were about 100 yards from the reef,
where we expected the ship to strike every minute, it being calm, no
soundings, and the swell heaving us right on."
When things seemed perfectly hopeless, a small breath of air, "so small
that at any other time in a calm we should not have observed it," came,
and every advantage being taken, the distance from the reef was slightly
increased, but then again it fell calm. A small opening of the reef was
seen and an attempt was made to push through, but the ebb tide was found
to be "gushing out like a mill stream." Advantage was taken of this, and
they succeeded in getting about a quarter of a mile away, but the current
was so narrow they soon lost it. A second opening was seen, and, the tide
having changed, they were carried rapidly through Providential Channel
and safely anchored in nineteen fathoms of water. Cook says:
"It is but a few days ago that I rejoiced at having got without the Reef,
but that joy was nothing when compared to what I now felt at being safe
at an anchor within it."
Having arrived at a place of safety, Cook resolved to remain till he had
his boats in thorough repair and had made a complete study of his
difficulties. From the masthead it appeared as if the shoals and reefs
offered less obstruction than he had previously towards the north, and he
hoped, by keeping as close to the shore as possible, to be able to solve
the problem of the passage between New Guinea and New Holland. At this
place, boats that had been out fishing brought back a sort of cockle,
some requiring two men to lift them, and containing "as much as twenty
pounds of good wholesome meat."
TAKE POSSESSION.
Proceeding slowly through a network of reefs, shoals, and islands, the
boats always sounding ahead, he had the satisfaction of passing the
straits between Cape York and New Guinea, leaving Torres's track
considerably to the north. On getting clear of the straits, they landed
for the last time in Australian waters, and hoisting the English flag:
"took possession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above latitude (38
degrees 0 minutes South) down to this place by the name of New Wales. We
fired three volleys of small arms, which were answer'd by the like number
from the ship."
Admiral Wharton says that in the King's and the Admiralty's copies of
Cook's Journal the name is given as New South Wales, and in a letter
written to Mr. John Walker, of Whitby, dated 13th September 1771, Cook
says: "The East coast of New Holland, or what I call New South Wales."
After a narrow escape of running on a reef near Booby Island, from which
they were only saved by letting go the anchors with all sails set, they
left the difficulties of the New Holland coast behind and sighted New
Guinea on 29th August.
***
FOOTNOTE: STING RAY BAY.
"The great number of New Plants, etc., our Gentlemen Botanists have
collected in this place occasion'd my giving in [sic] the Name of
Botanist Bay."
Extract from the only page known to exist of the Journal of the first
voyage written by Cook, and dated 6th May, 1770. It was, July 1911,
purchased by Mr. F.T. Sabin for 451 pounds.