Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/467

 cossrs oP SST9.. �was named Donkin's 'Hill, after. the inventor of the preserved meats; upon a.canister of which p. our party dined. This invention is now .so-ge, netally known.that its merits do not require to 'be reconied here; we had lately used a case that was preserved in.1814, which was equally good with some that had been packed. up in 1818. ,This was the first time it had been employed upon our .boat excursions, and the result fully answered every expectation, as it prevented that excessive and distressing thirst from which, in all other previous expeditions, we had suffered very much. �On our return we landed at the spring. The tide had covered it; but, upon searching, an- )ther was ;found farther back:among the man- .groves, supplying .at the rate of two .to three .gallons a minute; a discovery so valuable, that �the river was thought .worthy of a name, and it .was called after my companion Mr. Hunter, who .shared my pleasure in the gratification of finding .what we had hitherto thought,. at this season, totally wanting near the coast. No signs of natives .were observed, unless .the
 * country., having been lately fired, m. ight i.ndicate

their having been in these parts; but,. from the
 * 'ery. rugged nature of the hills, it is not probable

.they frequent.the neighbourhood of the river..

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