Not sure what you are using. Some more information may let us help you
more. For instance what version of Linux are you using. On my version
Xubuntu the Desktop is in my home Directory. The reason is that each
user has the ability to custom arrange their own Desktop.
Another question is are you one a live CD, or is this a loaded on a PC
hard disk?

Here is a partial listing of my home directory:
> drwx------ 12 marty marty 4096 Sep 5 22:23 Bills&Receipt
> drwxr-xr-x 2 marty marty 4096 Apr 20 09:18 bin
> -rw-rw-r-- 1 marty marty 106816 Aug 17 17:20 cfcu0817.pdf
> drwxr-xr-x 3 marty marty 4096 Jun 15 13:15 Chirp
> -rw-r--r-- 1 marty marty 132792 May 9 09:48 Crucial Mem.pdf
> drwxr-xr-x 2 marty marty 4096 Aug 28 12:01 Desktop
> drwxr-xr-x 25 marty marty 4096 Aug 19 10:08 Documents
> drwxr-xr-x 10 marty marty 4096 Aug 24 14:27 Downloads
> drwxr-xr-x 6 marty marty 4096 Oct 31 2009 drm
> -rw-rw-r-- 1 marty marty 762621 Oct 31 2009 drm-1-12b.tar.gz
> drwxrwxr-x 7 marty marty 4096 Aug 21 09:29 EMTEC Drive Bkup
> drwx------ 2 marty marty 4096 Aug 6 2011 For Sale Items
> -rw-rw-r-- 1 marty marty 390769 Jul 27 08:42 FT-817Stand.pdf


You will notice a directory for Desktop. What that contains is all the
names of the items on my desktop. So not much to see there really.

To better help you I think we need to understand better what you wish to
do here.