COASTS OP AUSTRALIA. 
405 
was named Donkin’s Hill, after the inventor of 
the preserved meats ; upon a canister of which Sept. 12. 
our party dined. This invention is now so ge- 
nerally known that its merits do not require to 
be recorded 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- 
other 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, might indicate 
their having been in these parts ; but, from the 
very rugged nature of the hills, it is not probable 
they frequent the neighbourhood of the river. 
