Crossing deserts, camel caravans

The summers are hot and the winters cold, so it would make sense to travel at night in the summer and daytime in the winter. The camels there are the Bactrian variety, ie 2-humped. Astrological navigation was known by the Greeks as early as 2500 BC, so it can be assumed that the Chinese would be using it in your time frame.

BardSkye said:

... in 6BC.

I've got one set of characters crossing the Gobi desert in 6BC. I've come across a goodly amount of description to draw on but am coming up blank in one area. Did they walk at night when it was colder and had stars to steer by, or during the day?

Though night crossing seems to make more sense to me, most of the bits I've been able to find seem to describe daylight scenes.

Anyone have any ideas?

Click to expand...

Depends on the time of year, really. Also, much would depend on the distances they needed to travel between water holes and or shelter at each stage of the journey. The Gobi is a "cold" desert in that at certain times of year and when the wind blows from a certain direction, it can be more than nipple stiffeningly chilly. Have a look at a few web sites to give you some ideas and by searching for Gobi climate info via google:

http://danielroy.tripod.com/cgi-bin/alternate/mongolia/geography-climate.html
http://www.galeschools.com/environment/biomes/desert/climate.htm
http://archive.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor-child/country_information_on_mongolia.html

I get mixed reads on whether caravans moved by night or day.

e.g. Burton's Mecca, (this is where I alway go for all my camel info,) says ...


" I was to place the skins on a
camel in front, and not behind; to hang them with their mouths
carefully tied, and turned upwards, contrary to the general practice;
always to keep a good store of liquid, and at night to place it under
the safeguard of the tent."


"The luggage was then carried down, and disposed in packs upon the
ground before the house, so as to be ready for loading at a moment’s
notice. Many flying parties of travellers had almost started on the
high road, and late in the evening came a new report that the body of
the Caravan would march about midnight. We sat up till about two A.M.,
when, having heard no gun, and having seen no camels, we lay down to
sleep through the sultry remnant of the hours of darkness.
Thus, gentle reader, was spent my last night at Al-Madinah."


Don't know if that's any help to you.