I could easily trace the further course of the Darling for about 20 miles westward; but the most remarkable feature discoverable from the hill was the undulating character of the country to the north-west beyond the river.  That region no longer presented a dead flat like the ocean, but had upon it various eminences some resembling low portions of tableland, others being only undulations raised a little above the common level; but the whole country was much variegated with wood and plain.

June 14.

We moved forward along the plains, keeping the river in sight on the right; and after travelling 13 1/2 miles we encamped close to it.  The banks were so steep at this part that the cattle could not be got down without considerable difficulty.  The water was quite sweet.

June 15.

We continued our journey in a south-west direction, and thus crossed various slight eminences connected with a range which lay nearly parallel to our route, on the left, and was named by me Rankin’s Range.

THE OCCA TRIBE.

Some natives followed us during a part of this day, shouting, and at length came boldly up to the head of the column.  They were very greedy, coveting everything they saw; and holding out their hands, uttering constantly, in an authoritative tone, the word occa! which undoubtedly means give!  I had not been in their presence one minute before their chief, a very stout fellow, drew forth my pocket-handkerchief, while a boy took my Kater’s compass from the other pocket and was on the point of running off with it.  I gave a clasp-knife to the chief, when another of the party most importunately demanded a tomahawk.  Observing that he carried a curious stone hatchet I offered to exchange the tomahawk for it, to which he reluctantly agreed.  I left them at last disgusted with their greediness; and I determined henceforward to admit no more such specimens of wild men to any familiarity with my clothes, pockets, or accoutrements.  They paid no attention to my questions about the river.  When the party moved on they followed, and when I halted or rode back they ran off; thus alternately retiring and returning, and calling to the men.  At last I galloped my horse at them, whereupon they disappeared altogether in the bush.  At 10 1/2 miles we came upon the river, and encamped where it was very deep and broad, the banks and also the flood marks being much lower than further up the Darling.

June 16.

We were compelled to turn east for half a mile to clear a bend in the river to our left, which, impinging upon some rather high ground, left us no very good passage.  The course of the river lower down was such that after travelling many miles to the south-west, and two to the west and north-west, I was obliged to encamp without being able to find it.  By following a hollow however which descended in a north-east direction from our camp, the river was discovered by our watering party in the evening at the distance of about three