edge, by his eyebrows apparently, managed to anchor himself with his "gully."

The part of the book which will attract most attention is the chapter dealing with "the climbing foot," where Dr Wherry suggests the proposition that people climb best who, by reason of possessing flexible ankle-joints, can go straight uphill, planting their heels and whole feet flat on the slope, and not, as he alleges young climbers do, by going on their toes or else turning sideways. Starting with that assumption, an attempt is made to prove that Swiss guides can bend up their feet more than amateurs, and several photographs of naked feet are here reproduced. These diagrams, by the way, are a little gruesome, and at first sight suggest the honourable profession which the author adorns, the members of which are not infrequently referred to in pulpits, "by way of illustration," as armed with the lengthy and somewhat inconvenient "lance."

The question raised is an interesting one, but we confess we are not convinced by the author's reasoning. Most of us have probably observed the difference he speaks of between the guides and ourselves, but we think the explanation is to be found not so much in a more elastic ankle as in a difference of boots, which the guides wear wide and loosely laced, so that their feet can wobble about. Their heels are also much higher than those of the Alpine or shooting boots now in vogue.

The conclusion reached by Dr Wherry, so far as we can gather, seems to be that a man has passed his best as a climbing animal at the age of twelve months, for his toes cannot then be made to touch his leg, which was the case when he was five weeks old.

If the theory were sound, its practical outcome would be to discard boots in favour of shoes when climbing. But we are not satisfied that there is necessarily any disadvantage in not putting down the heel when ascending a steepish slope. Among Highlanders generally a high instep and well-arched foot are something to be proud of, and the resultant light springy step is, we consider, of much greater use to a mountaineer than the capacity of going flat-footed on slopes. In saying so we intend no disrespect to "Bonnie Jean," whose charms have oft been sung at a mountaineering meet.

We venture to suggest a simpler and more reliable method than Dr Wherry's of discovering the best climbing foot, viz., to look out for the foot whose proprietor wears down his boots at the toes !

THE KARAKORAMS AND KASHMIR.

An Account of a Journey by

OSCAR ECKENSTEIN. London: T. Fisher Unwin. THERE is not much to interest the mountain climber in this little book, which may be regarded merely as an amusing note to Sir W. M. Conway's more elaborate account of the same journey. We are glad to see, however, that Mr Eckenstein has introduced "rock-problems" to the natives of Askole, where he amused himself by arranging

climbing competitions on some very good boulders in the neighbourhood. These natives must be splendid gymnasts, for he found that the best man would have beaten with ease, and over all kinds of rocks, the best Swiss guide he had ever seen.

THE "CONTOUR" ROAD BOOK OF SCOTLAND.

By HARRY R. G. INGLIS. With 500 Diagrams and Maps. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis.

THE idea of this useful little book is to present the cyclist with sections of all the principal Scottish roads, showing in contour lines all the inequalities of elevation that are to be met with, and their relative situation. With more truth than usually attends self-made claims, the author describes the book as “an entirely new departure in mapping”; for, though many have been the "aids" to cyclists, this is the first that recognises the all-importance of the hill and the advantage of accurate information regarding it. We have tested the diagrams by roads that we happened to know, and can speak to their general accuracy and clearness. Appended to the diagrams is a descriptive letterpress, with information regarding mileage, inns, surface, places of interest, and giving the exact figures of the various gradients. We note that the Glencoe road, which mountaineers have frequently to traverse en route to Clachaig and Bidean nam Bian, is regarded as the cyclist's bête noir, and that the road from Struan to Dalwhinnie is a good second in badness. Seeing, however, that the Larig Pass is mentioned as an Appendix route, we should have thought that the cyclist's odium would have been reserved for more unridable roads than the one in question. Glencoe is not so very dreadful. Compared with the moor road from Linn of Dee to Derry Lodge, where we once imperilled a bran-new "Premier," it is as asphalt unto a ploughed field.

In the western section are some wonderful diagrams, where strict accuracy of gradient can only be obtained by a series of Matterhornlike contours which will remind the mountaineering cyclist of a Coolin ridge. The ride from Tornapress to Applecross (12 miles, summit level 2,000 feet) lies over a beautiful representation of Schiehallion, and Inverness to Fort Augustus shows a scarcely less mountainous profile. The connection of two noble sports, which have already been linked together in the Journal, is thus completely established.

SKYE A SERIES OF MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS. By G. P.
ABRAHAM, Photographer, Keswick.

WE have great pleasure in making known the existence of a splendid series of high-level photographs taken in Skye by the Messrs Abraham, of Keswick. These photographers, who are already well known to many of us by their climbing views in the English Lake District, spent three weeks of last May in Skye, and have secured between fifty and

sixty excellent views, which give a very good idea of what climbing in Skye really is. Where all are good, it is not easy to single out any for special praise, but Nos. 15 and 22, illustrating the "pinnacle route" and "western ridge" of Sgurr nan Gillean; No. 30, Corrie na Creiche; No. 31, view looking south from Bruach na Frithe; Nos. 44 and 45, views looking north and south from Sgurr Dearg; and No. 7, Scavaig and Sgurr Dubh, are among the best. Some, however, are rather "theatrical," the figures having been too manifestly posed. They are sold in platinotype, 6 × 8 inches, at is. 6d. each.

PANORAMA FROM THE WALLACE MONUMENT, STIRLING. Stirling : R. Shearer & Son.

MESSRS SHEARER & SON have added to their series of hill panoramas one from the Wallace Monument, and it gives an excellent representation of the scene from that point. Although it is not reproduced in the highly finished style of the view from Ben Nevis, yet the accuracy of that panorama is maintained in this; and we are glad to see that the old age, when the shapes of the hills were exaggerated beyond all recognition, is passing away before the stern realities of fact, which is the characteristic feature of the present day. We hope we may soon have many more such excellent aids to the enjoyment of summit views, for there are many points in Scotland well worthy of being so honoured.

CHAMONIX AND THE RANGE OF MONT BLANC. A Guide by EDWARD WHYMPER. London: John Murray (3s. net).

MR WHYMPER has laid all who take an interest in mountaineering matters under a fresh obligation by the publication of this charming little Guide. While admirably fulfilling the object for which it professes to exist, it is nevertheless much more and much better than the unassuming title "Guide" would lead one to expect. At least such would be the case were the author any other than Mr Whymper. He, however, has set himself such a high standard in all the work he has already produced, that he has compelled the public to look for something of more than ordinary merit in whatever bears his name. This Guide is quite up to his reputation. The information which it gives is conveyed in such a delightful form that we have read it with quite as much pleasure as we have had in the perusal of many books treating solely of Alpine adventure. The little book deals with its subject first historically, and the historical portion is followed by the topographical. Not the least useful, and by no means the least interesting part of it, is the Appendix, which contains lists of Guides, "Tarifs" of Excursions, Tables of the Peaks and Passes, and other items of information which it is good that one should possess,

THE Coolins, like the Alps, have a magnet-power to draw climbers year after year to their summits. The climate, it must be admitted, is the wettest in Scotland. Good days are rare as the gratitude of editors, and experience shows that a climbing holiday in the central or eastern Highlands is far more healthful than a sojourn in the Isle of Mist.

Yet the Coolins are the most popular hills in Britain; and they are popular because they yield the finest climbing, contain the finest rocks, the shapeliest peaks, and the wildest corries. The ideal of the sport is to be found amongst them in perfection-the combination of all the essentials on which a keen sportsman could insist. It is a place where the tyro and the expert find themselves equally at home, for the climbing is of every variety. Most of the climbs look more difficult than they are, which is an agreeable deception. The climbing, too, is mostly safe, because the rocks are nearly everywhere sound. The views are superb, both near and distant. A constant feast of colour and of striking scenes is before the climber's eyes. He goes out in the morning, and the mountain tops, just piercing the mist, are red with the rising sun. At mid-day, when the morning vapours have floated up the dark mountain sides, the black jagged peaks stand out still and clear against the blue sky, and the corries, bathed in shadow, lie black at their bases, adding height and grandeur to their

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