( 12i ) 
a new and difficult snow pass of 17,250 feeb was 
ascended by the entire caravan. The very diffi- 
cult descent on the other side was also accomplished 
after much argument with the coolies, and the 
expedition found itself on^ the third night at the 
junction of a side glacier with the Kero Nullan 
and opposite the Ding Bransa where the ascent 
of the Nushik La begins. This is the first time 
that a passage over the range separating the Kero 
and Chogo Loongma glaciers has been effected. 
The party next marched to the beginning of the 
Hucho Alchori glacier where they were joined by 
the surveyor. This glacier was explored for the 
first time, and a snow col of over 18,000 feet 
at it head ascended by Mrs. Bullock Workman 
and guides. It was hoped that a new passage 
might be found here to Hispar, but the summit 
proved to be a snow cornice overhanging a sheer 
precipice. Four very high snow cols at the heads 
of the Hoh Lumba, Sosbon, Alchori glaciers and 
of another glacier north of it, have been investi- 
gated by the expedition this season, all of which 
overlook glaciers connecting with the Hispar, but 
" these cols while accessible to Alpinists on the 
south culminate in snow cornices overtopping abrupt 
precipices, and offer no access to the Hispar. 
Thus it would appear that the only available 
passage along the ranges bordering the Southern 
Hispar is the Nushik La at the head of Kero 
Loongma. 
This season of climbing on new ground adds 
much valuable material to last year's important 
work, and the two seasons' combined work 
constitute on of the most important exploring and 
climbing expeditions yet carried out in the 
North- West Himalayas.— ilf. Mail. 
"CEYLON -ANCIENT AND MODERN." 
18th Sept., 1903. 
Dear Sir. — In your issue of 27th August 
"Inquirer" asks who was the author of " Ceylon 
—Ancient and Modern.'* You will find in Vol. 
I. of the Monthly Literary Register, pp. 216 and 
288, two notes by me on the subject ; and in the 
latter part of 1897 I sent you an account of an 
interview that I had with Mr. Horatio Suckling 
who presented me with a copy of the curious 
little book, " Anti-Darwin," to which your 
correspondent refers, — Yours, &c., 
DONALD FERGUSON. 
[We quote from the 2nd footnote above referred 
to, adding the fact that the work was published 
in London in 1876 : — 
Capt. H. Suckling. — With reference to the query 
I may say that I find from the British Museufti 
catalogue of books that the " officer, late of the 
Ceylon Kifles," who concealed his identity under 
the initials H.S., is the author of another work 
entitled " Anti-Darwin ; or soma reasons for 
not accepting his Hypothesis." This little book, 
of 212 pages, was issued in 1884, having been 
"printed by and for the proprietor (privately)" 
at Twickenham. On the little page the book is 
said to be "by the author of ' Ceylon, Ancient 
and Modern," which is not the exact title of the 
work on the island by H.S.; but no doubt the 
writer is the same. I cannot find the name 
" Suckling," in the list of "retired" officers in 
the Army List.— D. W, F.— Ed. L.B.] 
DEPAVALYl-WHAT IS IT? 
Oct. 17. 
Sir,— This festival is celebrated in com- 
memoration of the death of a Rauchuden 
(giant), Naragasuren by name, who, in ancient 
times, had committed a great deal of mis- 
cbief in the world. The people— Hindus- 
rejoice, visit, and congratulate each other. — 
Yours, &c. 
HOLIDAY. 
