University of Hill Department of Bducational Studies P.G.C.B. ~ Googrenhy Method Extract from Adventures in Bastorn Siberia Wyne A. Polovtsoff ‘The next day it vas ~70C (-94F) which was perfectly unbearnble. When I came out of the house, such clouds of Stcan oscaped with me through the door that it looked as if the vestibule was on fire behind my back, I felt the cold so acutely in my nose and throat that I did not dare to breathe, and expected that if I inhaled the air freely I vould share the fate of the cock who had ezcaped on the previous day from the priest's heneoop end had fallen down stone dead after having flown for about fifteen yards. In my ears I heard all the tine e cound as of a tricklg of corn, produced by the freezing of one's own breath into hoar frost; thie music was lecolly enlled ‘etar whisper and only occurred when the thcrnoneter was below -60¢ (-75¥). Tho hard snow of the road did not rustle but cracked. All the trees were covered with a white leyer, so thick that even a bit of straw was es big as a finger and the woods seemed to be clothed with white foliage, The dogs' nostrile emitted such dense steam that they were like fire-breathing dragons ond snoke curled up from their conts. Out of my sleeve rose whiffs of vapour which looked as if I had hidden a lighted cigarette in then, like & naughty school boy. The air was absolutely quiot and the smoke rose up out of the chinneys in stroight colunns widening out at the ton from the nccumulation of consecutive puffs. The sky was greenish blue ant the glaro of the snow was unberrable, The stillness was complete, even the dogs did not bark. WV Tidswo1 WVT/Bquatorial Climate 20) Me A DAY A Pal 4 We used to rise soon after dawn, vhen Isitoro vould go down to the city, after supplying us with a cup of coffee, to purchese fresh provisions for the day. The two hours before breakfest wore devoted to ornithology. At that early perigd of the day the sky was invariebly cloudless (the thernometer marking 72 or 73 Fahr. the heavy dew or the previous night's rein, which lay on the moist folicge, becoming quickly dissipated by the glowing sun, which rising straight out of the east, mounted rapidly towards the cenith. All nature was fresh, new leaf and flowerbhds expanding rapidly. Sone mornings a single tree would appear in flover anidst what was the preceding evening a uniform greon mass of forest - a done of Dlossor suddenly created as if by magic. The birds were all active; from the wild-fruit trees, not far off, we often heart the shrill yelping of the Toucans. Saal flocks of parrots flew ove on most mornings, at a great height, appearing in distinct relief acainst the blue sky, elwsys two by two, chattering to cach other, the pairs being separated by regular intervals; their bright colours, however, vere not apparent at ttheight, After breakfast we devoted the hours fron 10 a.m to 2 or 3 p.m. to entomology; the best tine for insects in the forest being a little before the heat of the day. ‘The heat increased rapidly towards 2 o'clock (92° and 93° Fahr.), by which tine every voice of bird or mammal was hushed; only in the trees was heard at intervals the harsh whirr of a cicada. ‘The leaves, which were so moist and fres in early morning, now becane lax and drooping; the flowers shed their petals. Our neighbours, tho Indian and Mulatto inhabitants of the open paln-thatched huts, as we returned hone fatigued with our ramble, wero either asleop in their hammocks or seate! on mate in the shade, too languid even to talk. On most days in June and July a heavy shower would fall sone tine in the afternoon, producing @ most welcome coolness. The approach of the rain-clouds was -fter a uniform fashion vory interesting to observo. First, the cool sea-breoze, which commenced to blow about 10 ofclock, and which had increased in force with the increasing power of the sun,would flag and finally die away. The heat and electric tension of the ataosphere vould then becone ~Inost insuprortable. Languor and uneasiness would seize on everyone; even the denizens of the forest betraying it by their motions. White clouds would appeor in the erst and gather into cumoli, with an increasing blackness along their lower portions. The whole eastern horizon would become almost suddenly black, and this vould spread upwards, the sub at longth becoming obscured. ‘Then tha ruch of e mighty wind is henré through the forest, swaying the troo-tops; 8 vivid flash of lightning bursts forth, then a crash of thunder, and down streans the deluging rain, Such storns soon cese, leaving bluish-black motionless clouds in the sty until night. Meantime all nature is refreshed; but heaps of flower-petals and fallen leaves are seon unter the trees. Towards evening life revives again, ond the ringing uproar is rosuned from bush and tree. The following morning the sun gain rises in a cloudless sky, and so the cycle is completed; spring, summer, and autunn, as it were, in one tropical day. The days are more or less like thie throughout the year in this country. It is never either spring, sunaer, or autumn, but each day 1s a combination of sll three, (uenzy Welter Bates: The Naturalist on the River Amazons).