I began to hope we were about to leave behind us the dreary region we had wandered over, and that happier and brighter prospects would soon open out, to reward us for past disappointment.

Mr.Browne and I even ventured to express such anticipations to each other as we journeyed onwards.

At eight miles however, all our hopes were annihilated.

A wall of sand suddenly rose before us, such as we had not before seen; lying as it did directly across our course we had no choice but to ascend.

For 20 miles we toiled over as distressing a country as can be imagined, each succeeding sand ridge assumed a steeper and more rugged character, and the horse with difficulty pulled the cart along.