FIRST VOYAGE 83 



hardly discernible, aided the boats in getting the vessel in 

 an oblique direction from the rock. 



At this time a small opening was seen in the reef, and a 

 young officer being sent to examine it, found that there was 

 smooth water on the other side of the rocks. Animated by 

 the hope of preserving life, they now attempted to pass the 

 opening ; but this was impossible ; for it having become 

 high water in the interim, the ebb tide rushed through it 

 with amazing impetuosity, carrying the ship to a consider- 

 able distance from the reef. When the ebb tide was spent, 

 the tide of flood again drove the vessel very near the rocks ; 

 so that their prospect of destruction was renewed, when 

 they discovered another opening, and a light breeze 

 springing up, they entered it, and were driven through it 

 with a rapidity that prevented the ship from striking either 

 side of the channel. 



The name Providential Channel was given to the opening 

 through which the ship had thus escaped the most imminent 

 dangers.* A high promontory on the main land, in sight, 

 was denominated Cape Weymouth, and a bay near it 

 Weymouth Bay. This day the boats went out to fish, and 

 met with great success, particularly in catching cockles ; 

 some of which were of such an amazing size, as to require 

 the strength of two men to move them. 



On the 21st, several islands were discovered, which were 

 called York Isles. In the afternoon they anchored between 

 some islands, and observed that the channel now began to 

 grow wider. They observed two distant points, between 

 which no land could be seen ; so that the hope of having at 

 length explored a passage into the Indian Sea, began to 

 animate every breast. 



The Captain and his company now ascended a hill, upon 

 one of these islands, from whence they had a view of near 

 forty miles, in which space there was nothing that threatened 

 to oppose their passage ; so that the certainty of a channel 

 seemed to be almost ascertained. Previous to their leaving 

 the island, Captain Cook displayed the English colours, and 

 took possession of all the eastern coast of the country, by 

 the name of New South Wales, for his sovereign the King of 

 Great Britain. 



They were now advanced to the northern extremity of 

 New Holland, and had the satisfaction of viewing the open 

 sea to the westward. The north-east entrance of the passage 

 is formed by the mainland of New Holland, and by a 



* ** ... 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." Extract, Captain Cook's Journal, Records, Admiralty, 

 Whitehall. P. 289. 



