ush 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 Nam