But fresh misfortunes, as cruel as shipwreck and for most of these men more disastrous, were heaped upon them.

They were smitten by a violent storm, terrific seas broke over the boat, and on the morning of March 2nd she suddenly shipped enough water to swamp her.

The crew with difficulty ran her through the surf that beat on the coast off which they had been struggling, and she went to pieces immediately.

The seventeen were cast ashore on the coast of New South Wales, hundreds of miles from the only settlement, which could only be reached by the crossing of a wild, rough, and trackless country, inhabited by tribes of savages.

They were without food, their clothing was drenched, and their sole means of defence consisted of a rusty musket, with very little ammunition, a couple of useless pistols, and two small swords.
The wretched band commenced their march along the coast northwards on March 25th.