23 OCTOBER 1993, Page 25

Legless in Alma

MY QUEST for the six-legged yurt of Kazakhstan, hexapodus ineredibilis banco- mundialis (City and Suburban, 9 October) has been joined by Mr F.R. Cannings, who writes to say that when in Alma Ata, he ate and drank underneath one, adding: 'Leg- less, as I remember.' I am not clear whether this refers to him or to the yurt. He and I blame the fermented mare's milk, or kumis. He says that it tastes more like fermented- mares' milk than fermented mares'-milk.