and general preparations for the forthcoming journey westward. Under these 

 circumstances, weather notes were entirely neglected, though all other records 

 were kept. 



The maximum temperature occurred on the 8th, the thermometer 

 registering ioo'4° F. On the 5th, 100*0° F. was recorded. 61*3° F. the 

 minimum temperature for the month occurred on the 28th. The average of 

 the maximum temperature readings works out at 83*2° F., or 5*4° F. less than 

 that of July. As in July the average minimum temperature showed an 

 increase on the month before, that for the present month being 71*4° F. 

 compared with 65*8° F. in July. Thus in the three months June, 

 July and August, we have a steady decrease in the average maximum 

 temperatures and a steady increase in the average minimum temperatures. 

 It is doubtless the increased night temperatures of August that make it seem 

 the hottest month of the year in this part of China. 



August, this year, did not keep up to its reputation for heavy rains. 

 There were only seven days on which rain was recorded, whilst the total 

 rainfall for the month was 1*94 inches. The heaviest fall occurred on the 

 15th, when o'6 of an inch was measured. 



No records of wind, or cloud formations were kept. 



September, 1908. Tai-yilan Fu. Altitude 2600 ft. 



From the ist to the 28th the expedition remained in T'ai-yiian Fu, when 

 the usual observations were taken. On the 28th the journey westward was 

 commenced, and as the last three days of the month were spent in travelling, 

 and the observations in consequence were taken at varying altitudes, they 

 cannot be included in the following averages and remarks. 



The weather during the month was, generally speaking, fine, though no 

 notes to this effect were made. 



The average temperatures were distinctly lower than those of August, 

 especially at night. The highest temperature occurred on the 6th, when the 

 thermometer stood at 86*o° F., and the lowest on the 23rd, when 46-5° F. was 

 recorded. The average maximum temperature was 77'5° F., and the average 

 minimum was 58*1° F. 



The atmospheric pressure was considerably less than that of August ; 

 27*22 inches on the 23rd being the highest reading, 26*79 inches on the loth 

 the lowest, and 27*05 inches the average for 28 days. 



Contrary to what one might expect, judging by the barometrical records, 

 the rainfall of the month was greater than that of August. The total rainfall 



140 



