with the world.  In 1775, he entered upon real service; and has continued in active employment from that period to this great epoch of his life.  He went to Virginia with Captain Bellew, in the Liverpool, during the year 1775; with whom he continued till the shipwreck of that frigate in Delaware Bay.  And having entered on board the Princess Royal, in October 1778, he was made a Lieutenant by Admiral Byron, in the Renown, on the 26th of November following.  He returned to England in the subsequent year; and served in the Channel on board the Kite cutter, and Ariadne frigate, till the beginning of 1783.  With Captain Phillip he went to the East Indies, as Lieutenant of the Europe, in January 1783; from whence he returned on the restoration of complete peace, in May 1784.  In this service it was, that Phillip and King became acquainted with the merit of each other.  And when the expedition to New South Wales was projected, King was appointed Lieutenant of the Sirius, on the 25th of October, 1786, at the same time that Phillip was nominated Commander of the voyage.

Chapter XI.

March 1788 to May 1788

Three of the transports cleared—­Two excursions made into the country, on the fifteenth of April, and on the twenty-second—­Huts of the natives—­Sculpture, and other particulars.

25 March 1788

On the 25th of March, the Charlotte, Lady Penrhyn, and Scarborough transports, having been cleared of all their stores, were discharged from government service, and left at liberty to proceed for China, whenever their commanders should think proper.  The other ships were of necessity detained till the store-houses could be finished.

15 April 1788

The month of April was not distinguished by any events that deserve to be related, except two expeditions of Governor Phillip for the purpose of exploring the country.  On the first of these excursions he set out on the 15th with provisions for four days; attended by several officers, and a small party of marines.  They landed at the head of a small cove, called Shell Cove, near the entrance of the harbour on the north side.  Proceeding in this direction they arrived at a large lake, which they examined, though not without great labour.  It was surrounded by a considerable extent of bog and marshy ground, in which, in the course of their progress, they were frequently plunged up to the waist.  On this lake they first observed a black swan, which species, though proverbially rare in other parts of the world, is here by no means uncommon, being found on most of the lakes.  This was a very noble bird, larger than the common swan, and equally beautiful in form.  On being shot at, it rose and discovered that its wings were edged with white:  the bill was tinged with red.