56 
MIRAGE. 
followed its windings, and, as we opened the points, they 
appeared, from the peculiar effect of a mirage, as bold pro- 
montories jutting into the ocean, having literally the 
blue tint of distance. This mirage floated in a light tre- 
mulous vapour on the ground, and not only deceived us 
with regard to the extent of the plains, and the appearance 
of objects, but hid the trees, in fact, from our view alto- 
gether; so that, in moving, as we imagined, upon the very 
point or angle of the river, we found as we neared it, 
that the trees stretched much further into the plain, and 
were obliged to alter our course to round them. The 
heated state of the atmosphere, and the sandy nature of the 
country could alone have caused a mirage so striking in its 
effects, as this, — exceeding considerably similar appear- 
ances noticed during the first expedition. The travelling 
was so heavy, that I was obliged to make a short day’s jour- 
ney, and when we struck the river for the purpose of halt- 
ing, it had fallen off very much in appearance, and was 
evidently much contracted, with low banks and a sandy bed. 
It was difficult to account for this sudden change, but when 
I gazed on the extent of level country before me, I began 
to dread that this hitherto beautiful stream would ultimately 
disappoint us. 
I had deferred my intended excursion to the hills under 
which I imagined Mr. Oxley had encamped, until we 
were out of sight of them, and I now feared that it 
was almost too late to undertake it, but I was still 
anxious to determine a point in which I felt considerable 
interest. I was the more desirous of surveying the country 
