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At Last, Patagonia / 15 
desert. This early morning singer is a charming 
grey and white finch, the Diuca minor, very com- 
mon in Patagonia, and the finest voiced of all the 
fringilline birds found there; and that is saying 
a great deal. The diucas were sure prophets: 
before long the first pale streaks of light appeared 
in the east, but when the light grew we looked in 
vain for the long-wished river. The sun rose on the 
same great undulating plain, with its scattered 
sombre bushes and carpet of sere grass—that 
ragged carpet showing beneath it the barren sand 
and gravelly soil from which it draws its scanty 
subsistence. 
For upwards of six hours we trudged doggedly on 
over this desert plain, suffering much from thirst 
and fatigue, but not daring to give ourselves rest. 
At length the aspect of the country began to 
change : we were approaching the river settlement. 
The scanty grass grew scantier, and the scrubby 
bushes looked as if they had been browsed on ; our 
narrow path was also crossed at all angles by cattle 
tracts, and grew fainter as we proceeded, and 
finally disappeared altogether. A herd of cattle, 
slowly winding their way in long trains towards the 
open country, was then seen. Here, too, a pretty 
little tree called chafia (Gurliaca decorticans), began 
to get common, growing singly or in small groups. 
It was about ten to sixteen feet high, very graceful, 
with smooth polished green bole, and pale grey- 
green mimosa foliage. It bears a golden fruit as 
big asa cherry, with a peculiar delightful flavour, 
