By the 14th her bottom was thoroughly repaired, and Cook speaks highly of the Dutch workmen: 

“I do not believe there is a Marine Yard in the World where work is done with more alertness than here, or where there are better conveniences for heaving ships down, both in point of safety and Despatch.”

The water, a perquisite of the Commodore of the Dutch East Indian fleet, was very unsatisfactory, and was found to keep very badly at sea, although its keeping properties had been loudly vaunted by the Commodore.  Cook was present at his appointment: 

“one of the grandest sights Batavia afforded; that may be too, and yet it did not recompense us for our trouble.  I thought that the whole was but ill conducted, and the fleet appeared to be very badly mann’d.”

A seaman who had run from a Dutch ship entered on the Endeavour, was claimed by the Dutch on the grounds that he was a Dane from Elsinore.  Cook promised he should be given up if he proved not to be a British subject, and enquiry by Mr. Hicks resulted in a report to the Governor that he was an Irishman, so the matter dropped.  His name was James Marra, and he will be again met with as gunner’s mate on the Resolution.

Death of Tupia.

Before leaving Batavia there had been seven deaths, including Mr. Reynolds, artist, and Tupia and his boy servant, and Cook gives the number of sick as “forty or more.”  Hoping the sea breezes might have a beneficial effect, preparations were hurried forward, and they managed to leave the day after Christmas Day, being duly saluted by the garrison with fourteen guns, and the Earl of Elgin with thirteen guns and three cheers, “all of which we return’d.”

Calling at Prince’s Island in the straits of Sunda, where some of the Batavian water was replaced by better, the sailors were allowed to purchase whatever they fancied in hopes of diminishing the dysentery which was rampant.  Every precaution that could be thought of was tried, but in vain.  Mr. Banks lost Messrs. Sporing and Parkinson, and on 29th January Mr. Green died; he had been long ill, but Cook says he would not take proper care of himself.  To judge from his own Journal, he must have been rather a difficult man to get on with, but his services as observer were invaluable, and he at all times and seasons was devoted to his special duty:  indeed, at times he appears to have thought that every other work should give way to his.  It is a somewhat suggestive fact that Banks hardly makes any reference to Mr. Green throughout his Journal.  On 27th February the terrible list of losses was closed by the deaths of three of the crew, making in all thirty deaths since their arrival at Batavia.

It was afterwards discovered that the season in Batavia had been unusually unhealthy, and several ships that had called in there had to report heavy losses.  Cook says: