28 MARCH 1958, Page 19

Sus,—Mr. Beale's Russian experience is interesting— ‘ though one wonders if

even 'hiking' is an adequate translation for a trip with assault river crossings! But the Russian word `turizm' is the same as the English (or near-English) word 'tourism.' It is so given in Smirnitskiy's Russian-English Dictionary (Moscow, 1952). Myuller's English-Russian Dictionary (Mos- cow, 1955) gives `turizm' as a translation of the English word 'touring.' He gives four words for `to hike,' all implying travel on foot, and none connected with `turizm.' A hike' is translated by an expression meaning 'pedestrian excursion.'

Usage follows the dictionary. For instance, the Soviet travel organisation lntourist (the 'In' being an abbreviation of the word for 'foreigner') does not, any more than any other tourist bureau, require its flock to do any walking at all, except through the corridors of art galleries and the foyers of hotels.— Yours faithfully,

J. E. M. ARDEN