readings became fewer, ceasing almost entirely on October 24th, not to be 
renewed till February, 1909. 
The maximum temperature was 57°0° F. on November roth, and the 
minimum was 12°5° F. on November 27th. The average maximum and 
minimum readings were 46°8° F. and 20°5° F. respectively. 
On December 5th the expedition left Yii-lin Fu and commenced the 
journey to Yen-an Fu, about 170 miles to the south. The country passed 
through was chiefly of low loess hills cut up in every direction by deep ravines 
and valleys, along which the roads chiefly lay. The observations were kept 
up as usual. The lowest temperature experienced during the whole winter 
occurred on this journey at Kan-ku-yii, just before reaching Yen-an Fu, on 
the night of December 18th-1gth. The thermometer registered 38 degrees of 
frost (—6'0° F.). 
The wind was from the south on the day that the expedition left Yii-lin 
Fu, but blew from the north each of the three days following. It veered 
round to the south-east on the gth, and then to the north-west on the roth. 
After this date it was recorded almost daily as variable. These winds, which 
seem to come from every quarter at once, are typical of North China. It is 
impossible for the traveller to find any bank or crevice in the loess which will 
shelter him from this cold and searching wind. 
Cirrus and cumulus clouds predominated as usual, stratus and nimbus 
being each recorded but once. Slight hoar frost was recorded on the 19th, 
on which date Yen-an Fu was reached. 
December 19th to 31st, 1908. Yen-an Fu. Altitude 2769 ft. 
During these twelve days fine but cold weather was experienced. A light 
wind blew continually, but its direction was only recorded thrice, namely, once 
from the south, once from the south-west, and once from the north-east. At 
other times it was the same variable wind experienced on the journey from 
Yii-lin Fu to Yen-an Fu. Frequently the sky was clear, though cirrus and 
cumulus clouds were noted. 
The maximum temperature experienced was 40'0° F. on the 2gth, whilst 
the minimum was 3°5° F. on the 2zoth. Average maximum and minimum 
temperatures were 34°3° F. and 12°2° F. respectively. The highest 
barometrical reading was 27'26 inches on the 31st, the lowest was 26°72 
inches, and the average of the twenty-five readings was 26°90 inches. 
No observations for humidity were made, while neither snow nor — 
hoar-frost occurred. Rain, of course, was out of the question with such low 
temperatures. 
144 
