The plain itself was of a dark purple hue, and from the elevated point on which we stood appeared to be perfectly level.
There was a line of low trees far away upon it to the N.E.; and to the north, at a great distance, the sun was shining on the bright point of a sand hill.

The plain was otherwise without vegetation, and its horizon was like that of the ocean.

In the direction I was about to proceed, nothing was to be seen but the gloomy stone-clad plain, of an extent such as I could not possibly form any just idea.

Ignorant of the existence of a similar geographical feature in any other part of the world, I was at a loss to divine its nature.

I could not however pause as to what was to be done, but on our return to the party prepared to cross it.