The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-04
ROBOROySKY'S EXPEDITION.
A Region In Asia Where Nain u
Very Rare.


Very Rare.
There are known to be regions on the
earth where rain is one of the greatest
rarities. but hitherto we have had no
knowledge OF a district outside the Polar
regions in which no rain. but only snow.
falls throughout the whole year. Such q
district was discovered by the Russian
explorer RoborovsEy. In 1880, in Central
Asia In the year 1859 Rovorovsky and
Rozlov separated from the Pjevzov expe-
dition in order to make excursions in the
desert of the basin OF the Tarim river
and the mountains of its southern border.
The results of this exploration. in many
respects of extreme Importance. were pub
lished last year by the Russian Imperial
Geographical Society.
The most noteworthy OF the separate
expeditions carried out by the two above
named travellers is the one by Roborovsky
into the country beyond the Astyntagh,
otherwise called the Russian Chain. This
! mountain chain was crossed FROM the
north, and the valley of a river flowing
southeast was followed as far as the
upper reaches of the Kerija river. The
kerija river rises in the Thibetau high
| lands, turns at this point to the north
west, and flows along the base OF the
kuen Lun. The route taken by Roberov-
sky and his little band had probably
never been trodden before by human foot.
He was surprised on May - by such
violent snowstorm that he was compelled
to return. In June of the same year the
bold explorer returned, and this time sue
ceeded in crossing the Uzutagh mountains
at the south. Beyond the latter a vast
desert stretched out before his gaze, lying
1850 feet above the level Of the SEA. high
err therefore, than the highest mountain
in Europe.
Although IL was In the middle OF June.
there was not the slightest trace Of life.
and the Surrace of the ground was cover
ed with long ranges of sharply pointed
quartz hills. After penetrating twenty
two English miles into this wilderness.
the expedition came across a few ulfscr-
able willow bushes. beyond this, how
ever. there was nothing. not even sign
Of lichen on the stone-covered ground.
The only animals that showed themselves
were few orongo antelopes, and these
were in such an exhausted condition that
they passed within a few yards OF the
men without paying the slightest heed 10
their presence, or To the danger they
thereby ran. In this desert rain appears
70 be quite unknown. and only snow
seems 10 fall the whole year through
In the month Of June II showed every
day. though the snow Immediately eVap-
Grated on reaching the ground. In the
morning o. June -, al an attihHbt "a -
0se feet, Roberovsky found the tenpera-
tura 10 be - G.
After making forty miles in this terrible
region. the party had 10 return. Tor the
horses were completely worn oui throHEi
the stony surface. only one ~ the ami
rlais survived The march. AZ the north-
ern edge Of the mountain chain me eS-
petition had 70 encounter continual safia
storms. Of the violence q whicn II -
difficult II form an idea The slopes Oh
the mountains ara here covered Win
thick bed OF loss< that extraofdlndFH me
granular sol which IS so very prevalent
IN China. This Is taken up ~ lhe WHO'S
ami carried through the air. ana IN heavy
storms such enormous masses are present
that the san ls o1scUred As by an
eclipse Should rain fall ~ the same time
each drop collects q small quantity 81
dust on SIS downward course the water
almost completely evsporat~s petoFe ms.
drop reaches the ground anE faS'ca'l ~
wet rain rain - tiny dust pellets 1ai4s
on 10 tho earth. when TIE storm - over
tn, 3Gst fails AGAIN IN tns ground @fld
centrinutes - she increase ~ the toeSS
covering ia another place " hojs forests
II poplars are sometimes nuf1ed ~ the
auSI which arcGrnuistes round me
trunks 70 a height af forty feet The
trees then very quickly die ara. whea a
later storm again blows away me maSsss
~ dast surrounding them. they fan 10
pieces