A VOYAGE TO 
ceeding in this diredion they arrived at a large lake, 
which they examined, though not without great labour. 
It was furrounded by a coniiderable extent of bog and 
marfliy ground, in which, in the courfe of their progrefs, 
they were frequently plunged up to ihe waifl. On this 
lake they firft obferved a black fwan, which fpecies, 
though proverbially rare in other parts of the v/orld, is 
here by no means uncommon, being found on moft of 
the lakes. This was a very noble bird, larger than the 
common fwan, and equally beautiful in form. On being 
fliot at, it rofe and difcovered that its wings were edged 
with w^hite : the bill was tinged with red. 
In three days, with great difficulty, they palled 
the fwamps and marflies which lie near the har- 
bour. Nothing can more fully point out the great im- 
provement which may be made by the induflry of a 
civilized people in this country, than the circumftances 
of the fmall ftreams which defcend into Port Jackfon. 
They all proceed from fwamps produced by the flagna- 
tion of the water after rifmg from the fprings. When 
the obflacles which impede their courfe can be removed, 
and free channels opened through which they may flow, 
the adjacent ground v/ill gradually be drained, and the 
itreams tliemfelves will become more ufeful ; at the fame 
time habitable and falubrious fituations will be gained in 
• ' 8 places 
