Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/69

46 a small island about two miles square; this island may be reached on one side the lake, the water being only knee deep, a high bank running out from the shore towards it, and forming a sort of isthmus. On this island we found an immense number of swans and other wild birds. We made our huts a short distance from the tribe who had invited us to visit them, and here we had as many swan's eggs as we could consume; and there were many more: they were the first I had eaten, and I thought them, by way of change, a great treat. The first day we passed at our new locality, the other tribe said they would take us home with them and have a Corrobberree, after visiting the island. On arriving there we found it literally covered with eggs, so that we very soon filled all our rush baskets; they were laying about in heaps, there being nothing like nests. Our friends whom we visited, allowed us to fill our baskets first, and then they loaded theirs. This continued for several days, and each night we had a Corrobberree. At length the tribe left us, apparently in great haste, but for what cause I could not make out, but I anticipated mischief from their manner, and thought some dispute had occurred amongst them on one of the days when I did not go with them to the island. Our tribe did not interfere in any way. At length we started further up the lake, and arrived at a part that is very narrow. Here we killed a great many swans, which were served out to each family according to its wants; their method of dressing these birds is by roasting, as before described. The next