recorded. The average barometrical reading was 26°92, some 8 points higher 
than that of June. 
The average maximum temperature of this month was lower than that of 
the previous one, though some very hot weather was experienced. The 
maximum temperature was recorded on the 5th, when the thermometer stood 
at 100° F. in the shade. Oddly enough 57°7° F., almost the minimum 
temperature for the month was recorded on the same day, thus giving a 
variation in about twelve hours of 42°3° F. The actual minimum temperature, 
which was 55°4° F. occurred on the 15th, whilst the average minimum 
temperature was 65°8° F., or 12°4° F. more than that of June. 
It may be noted here in connection with the thunderstorms of this district, 
that they usually come in the afternoon after very hot days. Thus on the 5th, 
when the maximum temperature was Io00’0° F. in the shade, a thunderstorm 
occurred at 6°30 p.m. The same thing occurred on the 8th, rath, 13th, and 
28th of this month, and also on the 3rd, 4th, 19th, and 23rd of June. A 
heavy downpour is not a necessary and inevitable result of a hot day, but it is 
safe to say that the one is usually preceded by the other. On the other hand 
continuous steady rains such as occurred on the 3rd, the 17th, and the 18th 
of July are usually accompanied by comparatively low temperatures such as 
74°2° F. on the 3rd, 75°6° F. on the 17th, and 740° F. on the 18th. 
This month cirrus clouds seemed to predominate, though cumulus, 
stratus, cirro-cumulus, nimbus, cirro-stratus, and strato-cumulus were 
also noted, coming in the above order as regards their frequency of occurrence. 
On two out of three days on which nimbus clouds were recorded, they were 
followed by rain ; whilst rain almost invariably followed stratus clouds. 
It can hardly be said that there was any prevailing wind during this 
month, though it was most often recorded as blowing from the west. Wind 
blew from the north-east, north-west and south-west with almost equal 
frequency. Rain was most frequently brought up by south winds, though it 
was recorded from all parts of the compass. 
The month ended with less rain, and with finer and more settled weather 
than that with which it commenced, whilst the maximum temperatures of the 
last few days were considerably above the average, as also were the mininum 
readings. 
August, 1908. Tai-yiian Fu. Altitude 2600 ft. 
The whole of the observations this month were made in T’ai-yiian Fu 
where the members of the expedition were busy with astronomical observations 
139 
