From Mr Karel Kovanda.

Sir, With respect to the recent exchange concerning Sherpas and sherpas (Letters, May 9 and 10): may I point out that, just as leaders need sherpas to help them get to the summit, sherpas need their own helpers, too. These are routinely described in diplomacy as "sous-sherpas". Would this be the only Franco-Nepalese word to have entered the English language?