SEVERE WEATHER; SNOW-STORM. 7 



But no sooner had we crossed the Kara-narin- 

 ula mountains than excessive cold weather set in ; 

 and on the 15th November we experienced a storm 

 which reminded us of the climate of Siberia a 

 month later. With a violent gale from the NW. 

 and a temperature of — 9*0° Cent. (17° Fahr.), the 

 sleet continued the whole day ; the snow flakes, 

 driven by the force of the wind into the finest 

 particles, were mingled with clouds of sand which 

 completely enveloped us. Large objects, ten paces 

 off, were invisible ; and we could neither open our 

 eyes nor breathe freely when facing the wind. It 

 was useless attempting to pursue our journey under 

 these circumstances, and we remained in our tent, 

 occasionally issuing forth to clear away the snow and 

 sand- drifts which blocked up the entrance to our 

 humble abode. Towards evening the violence of 

 the snow-storm increased so much that we were 

 obliged to leave our camels out all night, only 

 securing them the following day. 



The snow lay on the ground several inches deep, 

 forming great drifts in places, and hard frosts con- 

 tinued every day. This unfavourable weather added 

 greatly to the difficulties of our journey, and ag- 

 gravated the sufferings of my sick companion. The 

 beasts also suffered a good deal from want of food. 

 Two of our camels and one horse soon refused to 

 move, and had to be abandoned, their places being 

 taken by the spare camels which Ave had got in 

 Ala-shan. 



In this way we advanced for 100 miles aloivT 



