Nearing the sea, vegetation entirely ceases.

Nothing is visible around but hard calcined plain, brown and level, lost on the horizon seaward in a series of mirages, ending northward in a chain of rocky, precipitous mountains.

The bright, clear atmosphere was remarkable; objects thirty or forty miles off looking but a mile or so away.

About midday an unusual sight appeared on the horizon--two Europeans, a lady and gentleman, mounted on donkeys, and attended by a chalvadar on a third, who apparently carried all the baggage of the party.

Halting for a few moments, and waiving introduction, we exchanged a few words.