1850 ] On the Inland Storms ofTartary. 245 



— Ther. — wind piercing cold, and rising and falling with a sort of 

 moaning noise. 



Sky, light, hazy, vapory blue, and very thin sheets of scud flying 

 from N. E. and north. 



10 a. m. Blowing hard at E. b. N. 



Bar. — Ther. — . 



Strong haze above, dust-storm below, like those on the plains of 

 India in the hot winds. 



Noon : hurricane at due East tearing up everything ; tent would go if 

 not for the shelter of the rocks, Bar. — Ther. — . 



Wind cold, some blasts warmer ; blowing in heavy squalls. Baro- 

 meter evidently oscillating with the squalls. Packed it up for fear of 

 accident. At \2h. 45mhe thorizon one mass of dust, but a singular 

 blue circle above us comparatively clear : subtends an arch of 45° or 

 50°. 



1 p. m. more interval between the blasts. Wind E. S. E. Ther. — 



2 p. m. wind S. E. b. E. more moderate but blowing hard. 



2.30. p. m. moderate but strong gale at S. E. Set up Barometer 

 again, Bar. — Ther. — . 



3 p. m. moderating fast and our guides say all is over. 

 During the whole of the storm the dryness remarkable. 



By shading the eyes, faint flashes of lightning could be seen. No 

 thunder heard ; but the roaring of the wind would prevent it if the 

 thunder was not loud. 



Guides say sometimes thunder, sometimes not ; and that though it 

 never rains with these storms in summer ; in winter it snows with 

 them; but they cannot say if the snow falls or drifts like the dust. 

 They say that sometimes there is a dead calm in the middle of the 

 hurricane, and that the wind then comes from the opposite quarter 

 and that these are the most violent storms. They speak of these with 

 much dread. 



No II. 



At Iskardo, October 22nd. — Our landlord sent his servants to secure 

 all the doors and windows, saying we were going to have a storm. 



Sky clear, but from the gallery to the S. W. a dense low lead-colour- 

 ed cloud could be seen about ten degrees in altitude and subtending an 

 arch from south nearly to west. Sky hazy, no scud or drift. Sun rose 



2 K 



