It had been impossible to ascertain the fall or dip of the Stony Desert, but somewhat to the west of our course on the earthy plain there were numerous channels, which as we advanced seemed to be making to a common centre towards the N.E.Here and there a polygonum bush was growing on the edge of the channels; and some of them contained the muddy dregs of what had been pools of water.

Over this field of earth we continued to advance almost all day, without knowing whether we were getting still farther into it, or working our way out.

About an hour before sunset, this point was settled beyond doubt, by the sudden appearance of some hills over the line of the horizon, raised above their true position by refraction.

They bore somewhat to the westward of north, but were too distant for speculation upon their character.

It was very clear, however, that there was a termination to the otherwise apparently boundless level on which we were, in that direction, if not in any other.
Our view of these hills was but transient, for they gradually faded from sight, and in less than ten minutes had entirely disappeared.