still lower. As far south ns Uliassutai there has been recorded the low temperature of 

 -H 47,5° C. The weather is mostly rather calm, the prevalent northerly and north- 

 westerly winds being considerably softened down on the south side of the Sayansk 

 mountains. The Ulu-kem becomes free from ice in the middle of April, and is not frozen 

 up till the end of October. 



These tracts correspond, if anything, to Wahminc's r o c k - s t e p p e s, and have 

 only a very poor and monotonous flora. There are only a few species which are able 

 to find reasonable terms in these extremely dry and hot localities. The rocky ground 



Fig. 67. From the Soyotc Steppe on the Ulu-kem. A sacred <(Ova» belonging to the natives, 



built chiefly of Scilix, Popiiliis. and Cavagana. 



frequently lies bare, and the shallow, sandy earth occurring here, is dry as tinder and very 

 poor in organic matter. The sun bakes all day from the cloudless sky, and several 

 weeks, perhaps even months may pass without any rain falling. On the other hand, there 

 is a rich dew-fall at night, ^\■hich is no doubt of great consequence for tlie plant life in 

 these regions. 



On account of the far advanced season when I visited these regions, at the end of 

 August, the steppe was mostly dry and scorched, the summer heat having almost 

 entirely destroyed the vegetation, and only few plants were left at this time. As our 

 journey for various reasons had to be be forced through these tracts, my floristic 



96 



