60 
THE BLACK BOY DESERTS. 
very good condition. We pushed on, however, sixteen 
miles, in consequence of the coolness of the weather. We 
observed little change in the river in that distance, except- 
ing that it had taken up a muddy bottom, and lost all the 
sand that used to fill it. The soil and productions on the 
plains continued unchanged in every respect. From this 
time to the 22d, the country presented the same aspect. 
Occasional groups of cypress shewed themselves on narrow 
sandy ridges, or partial brushes extended from the river, 
consisting chiefly of the acacia pendula, the stenochylus, 
and the nut I have already noticed. The soil on which 
they grew was, if possible, worse than that of the barren 
plain which we were traversing ; and their colour and 
drooping state rendered the desolate landscape still more 
dreary. 
On the 21st, we found the same singular substance* im- 
bedded in the bank of the river that had been collected, 
during the former expedition, on the banks of the Darling ; 
and hope, which is always uppermost in the human breast, 
induced me to think that we were fast approaching that 
stream. My observations placed me in 34° 17' 15" S. and 
145° of E. longitude. 
On the 22d, my black boy deserted me. I was not sur- 
prised at his doing so, neither did I regret his loss, for he 
had been of little use under any circumstances. He was 
far too cunning for our purpose. I know not that the term 
ingratitude can be applied to one in his situation, and in 
* Gypsum. See Plate. 
