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| 0109 |
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 |
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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 Káshghar :—
December. January. February.
Thermometer, Maximum ... +60°F. +40° +49°
„ Minimum ... — 3° — 4° — 5°
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 khargah
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 arta-yáz gradually emerges from winter and towards its close suddenly lapses
into summer. It extends over March, April, and May, and is characterised by greater atmos-
pheric 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 ... ... 79° 88° 95°
„ Minimum ... ... 16° 31° 40°
„ Sun's rays ... ... 122° 140° 135°
Days of cloud ... ... ... 20 26 Haze. 24 Haze.
„ wind ... ... ... 20 N. W., 6 S. E. 22 N. W., 2 S. W. 16 N. W., 6 S. E.
„ rain and snow ... ... 3 S., 2 R. 0 0
The summer or yáz 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 refresh-
ing 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 atmos-
phere, 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 káz like the winter is a more or less still season ushered in with north-
western 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 Sep-
tember, 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, 16; of wind, 3 N. W., and of
rain, 0.
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