er, who were killed by Dilba, and
other savages near Hat Hill;* and Mr. Clarke, with a sailor and one
lascar, alone remained 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
conveyed into her, and brought to Port Jackson.

[* 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
hill.]

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 none which he had not been able
to pass, either at the sea side, or by going a few miles round, into the
country. A journal of his route was published in the Calcutta newspapers,
some time in 1798.

The colonial schooner Francis had made one voyage to Furneaux's Islands,
and brought from thence captain Hamilton, and part of his people and
cargo. The same vessel was about to proceed thither a second time, and I
was anxious to embrace that opportunity of exploring those extensive and
little known lands; but the great repairs required by the Reliance would
not allow of my absence. My friend Bass, less confined by his duty, made
several excursions, principally into the interior parts behind Port
Jackson; with a view to pass over the back mountains, and ascertain the
nature of the country beyond them. His success was not commensurate to
the perseverance and labour employed: the mountains were impassable; but
the course of the river Grose, laid down in Plate VIII, resulted from one
of these excursions.

SHORTLAND. 1797. (Atlas, Pl. VIII.)

In September, a small colonial vessel having been carried off by
convicts, lieutenant JOHN SHORTLAND, first of the Reliance,* went after
them to the northward, in an armed boat. The expedition was fruitless, as
to the proposed object; but in returning along the shore from Port
Stephens, Mr. Shortland discovered a port in latitude 33 deg., capable of
receiving small ships; and what materially added to the importance of the
discovery, was a _stratum of coal_, found to run through the south head
of the port, and also pervaded a cliffy island in the entrance. These
coals were not only accessible to shipping, but of a superior quality to