By Karuna Goswamy

Across

1. Vital ‘juice’ that flows through the body

3. Each spot on playing card, dice

6. Test that hopefuls have to pass well before admission to an American University (inits)

7. Element that many cultures refer to as the Mother

8. The gift of this comes in handy

9. Consolidate earth by ramming, pounding, etc.

12. Make up for a fault, sin etc.

14. Resting place for travellers

15. Tuberous root used as vegetable

16. Adam’s rib, in other words

Down

1. Long, historic narrative, especially associated with Nordic countries

2. The eagle is a bird of this kind

3. Great American writer of mystery tales

4. Prickly, very prickly, creature

5. Night life area of London

10. Timur, the great conqueror, was known as one

11. At one time

13. Tree that was subject to a disease all over the world some years ago

Solved