nt. 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
C