Again the barometer showed considerable fluctuations, the highest readings 

 being 25-27 inches, and the lowest 2472 inches. The average of all readings 

 was 25"oo inches. 



The highest temperature during the month was 83*0° F. on the 25th, 

 and the lowest was 30*0° F. on the 7th. The averages were 68'6° F. for the 

 maxima and 4i'2° F. for the minima. The temperature steadily 

 increased throughout the month, though one or two cold days were 

 experienced towards the end. 



Mai/, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft. 



With the exception of six days, which were spent in the mountains to the 

 south of Lan-chou, a very complete set of observations was made during the 

 month of May. 



The observations differed but little from those made in April. 



The temperature was increasingly warmer, the barometer averaged a 

 little higher, but was perhaps a trifle more unsteady ; whilst there was more 

 rain, more strong winds, and slightly greater variety in cloud formation, 

 stratus clouds appearing more frequently. 



The prevailing wind was again in the east, though winds from the north- 

 east and north-west were recorded with some frequency. 



Rain fell on eight occasions ; the rainfall, which was recorded on four days 

 only, being o'og of an inch. Late in the afternoon of the nth a remarkable 

 phenomenon was noticed. Two strong winds, blowing from the west and 

 east respectively met over Lan-chou, when hail and rain fell for about an hour. 

 This was followed by rain during the night, fog next day, and snow upon the 

 surrounding hills, and it may be noted that a wind from the west was largely 

 responsible for the latter. Most of the rain that was recorded fell during these 

 few days of atmospheric disturbance. The temperature fell to considerably 

 below the average, whilst the barometer ran up to the highest level recorded 

 during the three and a half months' stay in Lan-chou. It may 

 here be noted that whenever the temperature was unusally low the barometer 

 was high, and vice-versa. 



The average maximum temperature was 75'5° F., and the average 

 minimum was 487° F., the highest and lowest temperatures being respectively 

 88-o° F. on the 30th and 35-0° F. on the 13th. 



The barometrical readings averaged 25'07 inches, a slight increase on 

 that of the April readings, while the highest point reached was 25*30 on the 

 13th and the lowest, 2478 inches, on the 28th. 



148 



