JOUENEYS THROUGH KOREA. 149 



easters during July and August. The rest of the year, April — 

 June, has variable winds until the southeaster gradually over- 

 comes the northeaster. The wind during the winter is stiff, its 

 average velocity being a meter a second, comparable only with 

 the strength of that which prevails in the Formosan channel and 

 along the northwest coast of Hokkaido. 



3) Relative humidity. — The annual average of humidity is 

 8 IX, comparable with tliat of the west coast (Akita) of North 

 Japan. The month of maximum humidity is July {dO%), the 

 minimum being in February (68%) ; but it is subject to great 

 variations from September to March. Generally speaking, the air 

 is damp, and especially so if we compare the humidity with that 

 of Kobe on the Inland Sea (Japan). 



4) IIain-fall. — The annual total of precipitation is 935 mm, 

 being nearly equal to that of the Okhotsk coast of Hokkaido, 

 and 39^ less than that of Kobe ; and even this small amount is 

 concentrated in the above mentioned period of variable winds. 

 Consequently tlie remaining two-thirds of the year are droughty. 

 There are, however, important exceptions, for during the summer 

 a cloud-burst often accompanies a gale, and in winter the prevail- 

 ing nortli wind sends hailstorms and drifting snow of which the 

 writer had the bitterest experience during his journey. 



Generally speaking, the maximum rainfall occurs in sum- 

 mer ; the next comes in spring ; and the minimum, which is less 

 than one-third of the summer rainfall, occurs in winter. 



5) Rainy days. — These number 132, being equal to those of 

 the Island Sea ; and, with the exception of the west coast of For- 

 mosa, there is no region in Japan, which bears comparison, in 

 number of fine days, with MoU-pJio. The monthly din-ation of sun- 

 shine is therefore not less than 40X, excepting the rainy periods 



