440 
In the chapter on plants, roots are said ‘‘to suck up 
water through tiny mouths,” “to search for lime salts,” 
and “to pick up compounds of potash.” Of some plants 
we read, “They determined to do by cunning what 
they could not accomplish by force,” “One very clever 
tree seems to have foreseen this danger and provided a 
remedy.” ‘The hazel never intended to grow nuts either 
for boys or squirrels.” “ The pitcher plant and Venus’s 
fly trap which set most ingenious snares for insects, and 
devour them when caught.” 
The point of view of the whole of this chapter is un- 
scientific, for plants do not do any of these things 
intentionally, and to attribute intelligence to them is 
misleading. 
The illustrations are line drawings enclosed in circles 
for reproduction as lantern slides. In many cases a 
scale should have been provided. The diagram of a 
bean seed (p. 49) is very poor. 
Gold Seeking tn South Africa: a Handbook of Hints for 
intending Explorers, Prospectors and Settlers. With 
a chapter on the Agricultural Prospects of South 
Africa. By Theo Kassner. Pp. x + 134; with maps 
and illustrations. (London: Charles Griffin and Co., 
Ltd., 1902.) Price 4s. 6d. 
Now that a new era is opening in South Africa, the 
appearance of any book giving information likely to be 
useful to intending immigrants is opportune. It will not 
be taken for granted by everyone that the last discoveries 
of gold in the Transvaal have already been made, and 
the venturesome prospectors who go there should include 
this little book in their outfit, as it is written by one who 
knows the country well. It contains some useful notes 
on the geology and history of the Transvaal goldfields, 
and a number of sketch maps. The De Kaap goldfield 
is treated somewhat more at length than the others, 
although even this account can hardly be called ex- 
haustive. The illustrations are numerous, but a protest 
must be made against the inclusion of some of them, 
particularly of Fig. 6, which is said to represent a pestle 
and mortar. 
A Text-Book of Inorganic Chemistry. By Dr. A. F. 
Holleman. Rendered into English by Hermon C. 
Cooper. Pp. viii + 458. (New York: John Wiley 
and Sons; London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1902.) 
Price tos. 6d. 
THE German edition of this Dutch work was noticed in 
NATURE, vol. Ixii. p. 598, October 18, 1900. A reperusal 
shows that considerable improvements have been made 
in the English version. The translation is entirely satis- 
factory, and the book may be recommended as a lucid 
and scientific account of inorganic chemistry. It includes 
a great deal of well-expounded physical chemistry and 
also many incidental matters of interest that are not 
usually found in works on inorganic chemistry. It is 
likely to prove very acceptable to those who wish to have 
a moderately advanced book of inorganic chemistry em- 
bodying an unaggressive presentation of the most modern 
discoveries and theories. 
The Bernese Oberland. By G. Hasler. Vol. i. From 
the Gemmi to the Ménchjoch. Pp. xxv + 164. 
(London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1902.) Price ros. 
THIS is the first volume of a series of four intended to 
guide climbers to the peaks and passes of the High Alps 
of the Bernese Oberland. The routes are arranged in 
chronological order of the conquest of the peaks to 
which they lead, and are dealt with in six sections refer- 
ring to the Balmhorn, Breithorn, Bliimlisalp, Bietsch- 
horn, Aletschhorn and Jungfrau groups. With this guide 
in his pocket, a climber will be able to explore districts 
which, happily, have not been entirely permeated by the 
show and tourist spirit characteristic of more frequented 
spots, and are full of interest. 
NO. 1714, VOL. 66] 
NATURE 
_ SEPTEMBER 4. 1902 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 
[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions ex- 
pressed by his correspondents. Netther can he undertake 
to return, or to correspond with the writers of, rejected 
manuscripts tntended for this or any other part of NATURE. 
No notice ts taken of anonymous communications.) 
Archeological Remains on the Summit of the 
Nevado de Chani. 
DURING the excursions that were made under my direction 
in 1901-1902 in the north of Argentina and the south of Bolivia 
from the Puna de Atacama to Crevaux at Pilcomayo, some of my 
comrades climbed to the top of Nevado de Chaii about 6100 
metres in Puna de Jujuy. 
Two ascents were made, the first by Count Eric von 
Rosen, the second by Dr. R. Fries, Mr. G. von Hofsten and 
Mr. Wensceslao Mercado. Von Rosen ascended quite near to 
the top, the others reached it. The summit is of granite; on 
the north-west side the rock is sandstone. 
Dr. Fries made botanical collections. On the top he found 
lichens. The microscopical life of the snow was poor. The 
snow line was about 5600 metres. On the side of the mountain 
there are remains of old houses. On the top there are small 
walls, and there Hofsten and Fries found pieces of pottery, a 
little green stone worked by man, a depot of wood of cactus, 
tola, &c. The walls were built in two small squares with one 
side open. One of the pieces of pottery was painted with a 
wedge-shaped (kilformigt) ornament, quite similar to ornaments 
found by Count von Rosen on pottery from Ojo de Agua, a pre- 
Columbian “ pueblo” in the Quebrada del Toro, some miles to the 
south. The wood was found both inside and outside of the walls 
and very well preserved ; probably this may be explained from 
the fact that at this height there are no, or few, microbes. Also 
inthe Puna about 3500 metres above the sea in the pre-Columbian 
grave-fields, there are still preserved pieces of clothes, skin, 
instruments of wood, &c. 
It seems to me probable that these small walls on the top of 
the Chai are the remains of an old sacrifice or signal place 
from pre-Columbian time. ERLAND NORDENSKIOLD. 
Dalbyo, August 14. 
J Radiant Point of the Perseids, 
YESTERDAY morning, August 11, I watched the northern sky 
for shooting stars from a place near Baddeck, Nova Scotia, from 
oh. 30m. to 2h. 15m. (Atlantic time). During this period I 
observed forty-nine meteors—mostly faint—forty-one of which 
appeared to radiate from the constellation Perseus. 
While trying to locate the radiant point, I noticed a speck of 
light flash out in Perseus, which died away without apparent 
change of position, as though a third-magnitude star had suddenly 
appeared and disappeared. This was probably due to a meteor 
advancing directly in the line of sight, in which case the location 
of the luminous point perceived may be of importance to astro- 
nomers, as an indication of the radiant point of the Perseids. 
The right ascension was about 2h. 35m., declination +56", 
as nearly as I can make out from a star chart. I may say 
frankly, however, that I am not accustomed to make observa- 
tions of astronomical positions. I can point out the exact 
position in the sky, and would be very glad if some of my 
astronomical friends would care to verify the R.A. and Decl. 
I may add that the paths of most of the Perseids observed _ 
seemed to intersect at or near the point where the stationary 
meteor appeared. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL. 
Baddeck, N.S., August 12. 
Earth Surface Vibrations. 
In NATURE for August 14, Mr. Charles Stewart writes from 
the Cape stating that exceptionally rapid barometric variations 
took place there on the morning of May 28. Mr. Hill states in 
the same number of NATureE that on the morning of May 8, 
Mr. Ferdinand Clerc, at St. Pierre, ‘‘ observed the needle of a large 
aneroid barometer pulsating violently.” 
The two similar barometric movements at different places 
suggest that the air disturbances at St. Pierre did not cause 
the barometric movement there. 
Mr. Stewart assumes there was an earthquake at the Cape for 
the reasons he gives. But the Royal Observatory showed no 
record of any seismic disturbance. 
