458 Notes about Winds, Storms fyc. in Thibet. [No. 6. 



Maidan. The mean elevation may be 16,000 feet. Bumtso which is 

 an easy ascent, and does not by any means appear as a mountain in 

 Dingcham, was reckoned by Dr. Hooker, by rough calculation of Baro- 

 metrical observations to be 18,400 feet above the level of the sea. 

 When we were at Bumtso on the 18th of October last, the Thermometer 

 at 1 1 A. m. in the open air stood at 44°, the wet bulb at the same time 

 being at 22° on the night before ; in the vicinity of Cholamu 17,000 

 feet, the temperature fell to 5°. These particulars relating to the 

 " elevation, cold, and dryness of the air" on which stress is laid by 

 Mr. Piddington in connection with his questions, were given to me by 

 Dr. Hooker on our journey, and are subject to his corrections when 

 his meteorological observations are worked out. 



Your's very truly, 



A. Campbell. 



Answers to Mr. Piddington* s Questions about Winds, Storms, fyc. in 

 Thibet, by A. Campbell, M. D. Superintendent of Barjeeling. 



The names by which the different kinds of wind are known in Thibet, 

 are " Babink"— violent storms or whirlwinds; "Lhapa," a storm or 

 whirlwind of less degree ; " Lumbu," ordinary wind. These are Thi- 

 betan names indicative of different degrees of intensity in the wind, and 

 have reference to their character only — not to their effects, on objects. 

 The " Babiuk" is generally preceded by a noise resembling the clatter 

 of galloping horses which intermits : it comes on sometimes quite in- 

 stantaneously, and lasts for all periods from an hour to three days. It 

 has been known to last for seven days even. Storms occur but rarely 

 between May and October, but frequently during the remainder of the 

 year. The general direction of storms is from the West and South 

 West, and so it is indeed of the ordinary wind also. The whirlwinds 

 have not been observed to have any general direction onward, nor is it 

 known which way they turn. They form suddenly on the open places, 

 and mountain passes ; the traveller sees the column of dust afar off ; if 

 on horseback he instantly dismounts, and crouches to the lee of his 

 beast ; if on foot he throws himself on his face on the ground, till it 

 has passed over him. Dust, dry grass, pebbles, and even stones are 

 taken up and carried in these whirlwinds, which are very frequent, and 

 never accompanied by rain or snow. The god of the winds is named 

 "Lumla" or "Lungla." The god of fire " Meh-la." The god of 



