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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
( 65 )
by winds ; whilst the humidity of the air, notwithstanding the continued frosts, is greater than at any other period of the year, as will be seen by the meteorological records above referred to. The climatic elements of this season are represented in the following abridged table of meteorological observations recorded at Kâshghar :-
December. January. February.
| Thermometer, Maximum | +60°F. | +40° | +49° |
| „ Minimum | ... — 3° | — 40 | — 50 |
| Days of cloud ... | 27 | 29 | 28 |
| „ wind ... | ... 2 W., 2 E. | 1 N., 1 E. | 3 N. E., 2 N. |
| „ snow ... | ... 0 | 0 | 3 |
These observations were taken in .a small court-yard in which were two occupied khargak tents, and about which were our dwellings and stables. The temperature on the open plain outside was considerably less than the minima above recorded, and on the 19th February a temperature of 20° below zero was observed at Tigarmiti north of Artosh by Captain H. Trotter of the Royal Engineers.
The spring or arty-JcIz gradually emerges from winter and towards its close suddenly lapses into summer. It extends over March, April, and May, and is characterised by greater atmospheric changes than either of the other seasons. March is a frosty, cloud-cast month with occasional clear days towards its close. Vegetation shows no signs of activity till the middle of this month, when the willow by several days precedence begins to unfold its leaf buds, and wave in the breezes which now dispel the clouds of winter, and make way for the haze which gradually, during the next month, takes possession of the air, and by the end of the season completely obscures the hills and distant prospect around. The climate of this season in the
| western portion of the plain is represented in the annexed table of recorded observations :- March.April. May. Thermometer, Maximum ... ... 790 88° 950 | |
| „ Minimum ... | ... 16° 31° 40° |
| ,, Sun's rays ... | ... 122° 140° 135° |
| Days of cloud ... ... | ... 20 26 Haze. 24 Haze. |
| „ wind ... ... | ... 20N. W., 6S. E. 22N. W., 2 S. W. 16 N. W., 6 S. E. |
| „ rain and snow ... | ... 3 S., 2 R. 0 0 |
The summer or ytiz extends over the months of June, July, and August. I have no data for the illustration of the characters of this season. It is the period in which agricultural operations are matured, and is described as hot and sultry even in the settlements, where the abundant growth of trees and numerous running streams, by their grateful shade and refreshing moisture, considerably mitigate its scorching heats, which are only experienced in their intensity by the traveller across the arid deserts around. Whirlwinds and circular currents now and again career across the plain in fitful eddies, but there are no rain storms, though dust or sand storms with thunder and electric disturbance do occasionally occur. They clear the atmosphere, and are succeeded by a brief lull, and occasionally by a slight rain shower, before the sun resumes its power, much as in Northern India.
The autumn or biz like the winter is a more or less still season ushered in with northwestern breezes which disperse the summer haze, and correct the aridity of its air by the diffusion of cloud moisture, till gradually the sky becomes overcast as in winter. It is reckoned the most healthy season of the year and that in which the sky is most uniformly blue and clear, though the diurnal range of temperature is very considerable. Frosts set in early and the latter half of the season is little distinguishable from winter. It comprises the months of September, October, and November. The meteorology of the last month is the only one for which I have recorded observations on the plain country, and they may be thus abridged :—November. Thermometer, Maximum 58°; Minimum 13°. Days of cloud, 1.6; of wind, 3 N. W., and of rain, O.
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