cir INTRODUCTION. [Prior Discoveries. 
Clarkb. After this expedition, the duties of the ship, and a voyage to the 
1797 ' Cape of Good Hope by the way of Cape Horn, suspended our pro- 
jects for some time. On the return of the Reliance to New South 
Wales, we found there the supra-cargo of the Sydney Cove, a ship 
from India commanded by Mr. G. A. Hamilton, which, having started 
(Atks, pi. I.) a butt end, had been run on shore at Furneaux's Islands and wrecked. 
Mr. Clarke had left the ship, with the chief mate and others, in the 
long boat, designing for Port Jackson, in order to procure means 
for transporting the officers and people, and such part of the cargo 
as had been saved, to the same place ; but being overtaken by a 
heavy south-east gale, their boat had been thrown on shore near 
Cape Howe, three-hundred miles from the colony, and stove to 
pieces. 
There was no other prospect of safety for Mr. Clarke and his 
companions, than to reach Port Jackson on foot; and they com- 
menced their march along the sea shore, scantily furnished with 
ammunition, and with less provisions. Various tribes of natives were 
passed, some of whom were friendly ; but the hostility of others, 
and excessive fatigue, daily lessened the number of these unfortunate 
people ; and when the provisions and ammunition failed, the dimi- 
nution became dreadfully rapid. Their last loss was of the chief mate 
and carpenter, who were killed by Dilba, and other savages near 
Hat Hill ** and Mr. Clarke, with a sailor and one lascar, alone re- 
mained when they reached Watta-Mowlee. They were so exhausted, 
as to have scarcely strength enough to make themselves observed 
by a boat which was fishing off the cove ; but were at length con- 
veyed into her, and brought to Port Jackson. 
Mr. Clarke gave the first information of the coal cliffs, near Hat 
Hill ; and from him it was ascertained, that, besides the known bays, 
many small streams and inlets had interrupted his march along the 
shore, from Cape Howe to Watta-Mowlee ; but that there were 
* This Dilba was one of the two Botany-Bay natives, who had been most strenuous 
for Tom Thumb to go up into the lagoon, which lies under the hilh 
