Dear Sir

I am very much obliged to you for the Proof sheets, received this morning.² But before I refer to the cattle, let me congratulate you on producing a work, which judging from the 32 pages promises to be so interesting, and how wonderfully you have mastered English! I declare you write a better style, forgive me for saying, than half our English authors.—

The facts you mention about the cattle, & about the Damara prizing the great horns & colours, are exactly the sort of facts, which I wanted to know.—³ Will you think me very unreasonable if I ask you a few other questions?— Do you suppose that the natives ever unite a particular Bull & particular cow together?⁴ as to breed any particular colour or excellence. I presume you saw no other breeds (or even sub-breeds) than the Damara, Bechuana & Namaqua breeds?—⁵

Will you have the kindness to tell me whether you noticed any different breeds of Dogs (or of Sheep) in the same or in different tribes of natives? Do the natives keep Fowls or other poultry? But I fear you will think me very unreasonable in asking so many questions; but I am most deeply interested about all domesticated animals. I can only trust to your friendship towards my relation F. Galton to make you forgive me being so troublesome.⁶

With very sincere thanks, pray believe me Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I cannot resist one other very odd question,— do you suppose that the natives select their wives for their personal appearance or beauty; & does a native & European at all agree in their ideas of the beauty of the female sex; or have they a different beau ideal?⁷