on the 20th, both at Chao-chuang. The month was comparatively dry, 

 though thunderstorms occurred at Chao-chuang on the 3rd and 4th, and at 

 Tou-fu-ssu, a temple, in the hills north-west of T'ai-yiian Fu on the 27th, 

 28th and 29th. The last three storms were accompanied by very heavy rain, 

 and the F^n Ho rose several feet and became unfordable. Thunderstorms were 

 also noted from Chao-chuang in the mountains to the north-west on the i8th, 

 and to the south-west on the 19th. Rain, varying from a few drops to gentle 

 steady showers, was recorded on seven other days during the second half of 

 the month. The amount was not registered. 



The presence of wind of varying degrees of strength was recorded on 

 seventeen days, from the 12th to the end of the month. Previous to this 

 hardly any weather notes were made. A strong gust of wind, accompanied 

 by dust, and lasting only half an hour almost demolished the camp on the nth. 

 On the I2th, strong wind, accompanied by dust, blew from the north-west 

 during the greater part of the day. On the 18th, a heavy wind from the 

 north-east blew for a few hours. The direction of the wind was usually from 

 the north-east or north-west, though it also blew at one time or another from 

 the east, south, south-west and west. 



Cloud formations of all kinds, except nimbus, were recorded, though 

 cumulus and cirrus were the most frequent. No connections between the 

 various cloud formations, and the humidity or dryness of the air could be 

 established. 



July, 1908. T'ai-yiian Fu (Altitude 2Q00 ft.) and neighbourhood. 



Half of July was spent in camp at Chao-chuang, and the rest of the 

 month in T'ai-yiian Fu. During this time observations were taken from three 

 to eight times daily ; whilst detailed notes on the very varied weather were 

 kept. 



July and August may be considered the rainy season of North China, and 

 the present month was no exception to the rule. Rain more or less heavy fell 

 on eight days, and thunderstorms occurred on four others. Thunderstorms 

 occurred in the surrounding hills on five days. The total rainfall for the 

 month was over 6*29 inches, the rain that fell on the third not having been 

 recorded. 



The heaviest rain fell on the i8th, when 3*66 inches in 24 hours was 

 recorded. 



The highest barometrical reading was taken on the 7th, and the lowest 

 on the 19th and 22nd, when 27.09 inches and 26*67 inches respectively were 



138 



