CLIMATE OF KAN-SU. 235 



year before, at the same season, the maximum tem- 

 perature in the valley of the Hoang-ho was 88° 

 F'ahr., and even in South-eastern Mongolia, near 

 Kalgan, the thermometer in April 1S71 showed 79° 

 Fahr. 



From all we have said it will be apparent that 

 spring in Kan-su Is as cold and humid as the sum- 

 mer and autumn ; in fact the whole year round there 

 is not one entire month of fine weather, such as we 

 are accustomed to in other countries. In spring and 

 autumn snow falls abundantly ; the summer is wet ; 

 in winter the sky is clear, but the winds are bitter 

 and tempestuous. 



On our way from Chobsen to the mountains 

 south of the Tatung-gol we passed the early part of 

 May in the alpine zone, which was quite inanimate. 

 Flocks of small birds had arrived in large numbers 

 early in May, only to rest for awhile on the meadows 

 or near the rocks, whilst the less hurried visitants 

 still kept to the lower and more genial valleys. 

 Vegetation was awakening but tardily, and the 

 Ficaria and Primula were the only flowers out. 

 Finding them, as we often did, on the alpine 

 meadows beside unmelted snow, we wondered how 

 they could adapt themselves to such unfavourable 

 conditions. I saw primulse, gentians, and irises 

 uninjured by the frost (8° Fahr.) or the deep snow 

 at nio-ht ; and no sooner did the sun shine out than 



О 



these children of spring decked themselves as bril- 

 liantly as ever, and appeared to be hastening to 



