"Betwixt these two points we could see no land, so that we were in
great hopes we had found a passage into the India Sea, but in order
to be a little inform'd I landed with a party of men on the Island
which lays on the right side of the Passage where from a hill I
could see no lands in the above direction Before and after we
anchor'd we saw many of the Natives upon this Island, but they all
fled upon my landing--a little before Sun sett I took Possession
of the country in His Majesty's Name, and fired a volley of small
arms on the occasion, which was answered from the ship."
On this _Possession_ subject we have the weightiest authority, Cook's
_autograph Log_, _Museum Catalogue_, 27,885 for August 22, when leaving
the Australian coast:--
"We were in great hopes that we had found a passage into the India
Sea but in order to be better inform'd I landed with a Party of men
on the Island which lays to the S.E. side of the Passage where from
a hill saw no land in the above direction. Before and after we
anchor'd we saw a good many of the Natives upon this Island but
they all fled upon my landing. A little before sunsett I took
possession of the Country in His Majesty's name and fired 3 Volleys
of small arms on the occasion which was answerd from the ship. High
water at 4 o'clock," &c.
_Banks's Log_ (of Cook), 8959 of Museum Catalogue, remarked:--
"The Pinnace and Yawl with the Capt^n. and gentlemen went on
shore to Examine the Country and view the Coast from one of the
Hills soon after saw some Turtle. It was high water. When we came
too the Tide of Ebb set from the S.W. 5k. 2m. per hour. At 6
possession was taken of this Country in his Majesty's name and
under his Colours fired several volleys of small arms on the
occasion and cheer'd 3 times which was answer'd from the ship."
In each case of Cook's real _Logs_ no name of any kind would appear to
have been selected for the country, else, in all probability, it would
have been stated in one or in both Logs.
The Chief Officer, Lieut. Hickes, knew nothing of taking possession of
the land in the King's name as _New South Wales_.
His Log for August 21 refers to Chacho Harbour:
"Wednesday 22. Latt. 10° 45″ Long, made W. from y^e Straits 00° 13.
These Straits are in Longitude 142° 25 E^t. The Capt^n. went on
shore, hoisted y^e Colours and took possession of y^e Country for
y^e King, fired several volleys and cheered 3 times which was
answered from y^e Ship, at 10 a.m. slack water weighed and made
sail."
The Log of _Richard Pickersgill_ gives this short version, imitating or
being imitated:--
"At 6 _Possession_ was taken of this country in his Majesty's Name
and this was announced from the shore by Vollies and answer'd from
on b^d. Colours flying and concluding with 3 cheers."
The _Cook's Log_ presented by Sir Joseph Banks to the British Museum,
and catalogued therein as 8959, is the most important of what Logs I, as
an archivist, would regard the genuine Cook's, as it was sanctioned by
the authority of a fellow voyager.
The quotation from this Log, on the taking possession of the territory,
runs thus:--
"Mod. and clear wea^r. saw a number of smoaks along shore at 1
Lay too for the yawl, Pinnace and Longboat, Sounding ½ p^t. 2
made sail and steer'd for a passage, Between some Islands and the
Main at 3 fired a gun and made the Signell for the Boats to sound
the next Passage, to the N.ward of the above Mention'd ¾ p^t. 3
was in the Passage Dist^ce. from Each shore ¾ of a mile--saw
several Indians who follow'd us shouting. At 4 fir'd a gun and made
the Signell for the Boats. Came too with the B^t. Bower in 6¾
fa^m. good ground Veer'd to ½ a Cable. Ext^e. of the Land on
the East side No. 56 E^t. an Island to S.W. the Main on the
W^t. side from N.S.E. to S. 73 W^t. 8 miles Dist^ce. from the
Eastern shore One mile. The Pinnace and yawl with the Capt^n. and
Gentlemen went on shore to Examin the Country and view the Coast
from one of the Hills. Soon after saw some Turtle it was high
water. When we came too, the Tide of Ebb set from the S.W. 3k. 2m.
p^r. Hour, at 6 possession was taken of this Country in his
majesty's name and under his Coulours Fired several volleys of
small arms on the occasion and Cheer'd 3 times, which was answer'd
from the ship."
There is, therefore, in the most orthodox Logs of H.M.S. _Endeavour_,
not any authority for the names of _Botany Bay_ and _New South Wales_.