Directions for Navigating on Part of the South Coast of Newfoundland, with a Chart Thereof, Including the Islands of St. Peter's and Miquelon And a Particular Account of the Bays, Harbours, Rocks, Land-marks, Depths of Water, Latitudes, Bearings, and Distances from Place to Place, the Setting of the Currents, and Flowing of the Tides, &c., from an Actual Survey, Taken by Order of Commodore Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, Labradore, &c.

"Directions for Navigating on Part of the South Coast of Newfoundland, with…" by James Cook is a handbook for ship captains sailing the tricky coasts of Newfoundland and nearby islands. It is filled with instructions, like how to enter harbors, what the land looks like from the sea, and where the dangers are hidden under the waves. The book is not just notes, but directions to help sailors steer clear of reefs and understand the pull of the tides, which were mapped and noted at that time. It's a snapshot of when folks were just setting out and attempting to understand the sea, showing old-time explorers trying to make some sense of the waves.