Captain Cook in New South Wales; Or, The Mystery of Naming Botany Bay — John Shaqi
Captain Cook in New South Wales; Or, The Mystery of Naming Botany BayBonwick, James
History
Captain Cook in New South Wales; Or, The Mystery of Naming Botany Bay
Bonwick, James
Botany Bay (N.S.W.) -- History; Cook, James, 1728-1779; New South Wales -- History -- To 1788
Green's Log is by the astronomer of the expedition. He heads his page
"Coasting New Holland northward." Though he puts April 28 for 29, his
Botany Bay visit is thus recorded:--
"Hoisted out the boats at 3 the Cap^tn &c with Marines and boat's
crew arm'd attempted landing but were opposed on the rocks of Sandy
beach by 2 Indians with 4 prong'd wooden fish gigs tipt at the ends
with 4 fish bones and fastened to y^e wood with a gummy resinous
substance; one of them under cover of a shield approach'd the boats
and threw his Gig and in return was wounded with small shot. They
now fled & with them a woman and 6 or 7 boys.
"On the beach they found 3 or 4 canoes made of the bark of a tree
gather'd up at either end and stuck open with a few sticks for
thwarts--the houses too (about 5) were no more than angular Kennels
made by binding a piece of bark in the middle and resting either
end on the ground encreasing the N^o of the pieces of bark
according to ye length desired."
An _unnamed_ log has the same account of the Bay.
The _Log_ signed _Cha Clerke_ is, like others of the early Cook age,
wholly innocent of a reference to _Botany Bay_.
This is its treatment of April 29th:--
"Moored in _Sting Rea_ bay. Little wind and fair. ½ past 1 came
too with y^e B.B. in 6½ fa sandy ground hoisted y^e boats out.
The Cap &c attempting to Land was opposed by a few natives who
dispersed on being wounded by small shot, in y^e evening they
returned having found a watering place."
On Saturday, May 5, we read:--
"Moored in Sting Rea Bay."
The WILKINSON'S Log ranges from June 22, 1768, to August 3, 1770. Under
April 29 we have this report:--
"Little wind and fair W ½ past 1 came too with the Bower in 6½
fm water, sandy ground. Hoisted out the Boats at 3 P.M. the Capt
and Mr. Banks and Dr. Sollander went on Shore and was Opposed by
the Natives at their landing on account the Captain was obledg to
Sting one with Small Shot. After they all retired to the woods in
the Evening the Cap^t having found a watering place" &c.
On May 5 is recorded:--
"Moored in _Stingray Bay_, New Holland."
In "A Logg of the Proceedings of His Majesty's barque _Endeavour_,"
commencing May 27, 1768, to September 26, 1770, _Step^n Forwood_,
gunner, writes:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account