Captain Cook in New South Wales; Or, The Mystery of Naming Botany Bay

"Captain Cook in New South Wales; Or, The Mystery of Naming Botany Bay" by James Bonwick is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book investigates the discrepancies and controversies surrounding Captain Cook's voyages, particularly focusing on the naming of significant locations such as Botany Bay. It delves into the sources and accuracy of the narrative presented by Dr. Hawkesworth, who documented Cook's voyage aboard the HMS Endeavour, raising questions about the authorship and credibility of historical records. In this detailed examination, Bonwick meticulously analyzes various logs, journals, and accounts relating to Cook's exploration of New South Wales. He contends that several original documents, particularly those written by Cook and his crew, do not support the official narrative that identifies Botany Bay and New South Wales, suggesting that these names were adopted later without proper attribution. Throughout the text, Bonwick seeks to uncover the truth behind the historical narrative, the motivations of the authors, and the influences that may have distorted the representation of Cook's contributions to the discovery of Australia.