2i8 WINTER IN NORTHERN TIBET. 



use ramrods to get the empty cartridge cases out of 

 the Snider rifle. With the Berdan this never oc- 

 curred, but its locks were injured by the cold and 

 dust, and the cartridge often missed fire, only going 

 off after a second blow of the hammer. 



The climate of Northern Tibet during December 

 and January is marked by the prevalence of severe 

 frost, dearth of snow, and dust-storms. 



Although in more southern latitudes than the 

 warmest parts of Europe, we were often reminded 

 here of the extreme north. At night the thermo- 

 meter descended to — 24° Fahr.,^ occasionally when 

 it was cloudy rising to 10° Fahr. However, as soon 

 as the sun was high up in the heavens the mercury 

 rapidly rose, and on four days stood above freezing 

 point (or 32° Fahr.) at midday. 



But little snow fell,'^ and what there was in fine 

 flakes, and as dry as dust ; occasionally covering the 

 surface an inch deep, but only for a short time, and 

 vanishing with the next gale, when it became mixed 

 up with the sand, and melted by the sun. It seldom 

 happens during winter that these deserts are quite 

 white,^ and even on the summits of high mountains 

 the snow only lies in small patches on the northern 

 slopes. The dust-storms which were so frequent 

 invariably came from the west or north-west, and 



^ And probably even lower, for \ve had no minimum thermometer, 

 ours being broken, so we took the night temperature at sunrise. 



'^ In December snow fell on four days, in January on eleven. 



' It is said that in some years a large quantity of snowfalls. How- 

 ever, this can hardly be the case, because if so, all the herbivorous 

 animals of these regions would die for want of food. 



