Darwin Correspondence Project

Marine View. Ventnor | Isle of Wight

Oct 8th 1856

My dear Sir

I have just received your letter and am much pleased that any cursory observation of mine may prove of utility to you, and as I am now just out of bed after a weeks very severe sickness, I think there is no better opportunity than the present when the mind is purified by this physical tornado. Any observations contained in my letters are always at your service for publication if you think them sufficiently worthy. The pigeons although procured from different houses evidently belong to the same breed, in fact the only domesticated one in Sierra Leone. With regard to the wild fowls I am of your opinion that they originally came from a domesticated breed, and were set free by the ravages of civil commotions in the neighbour where they abound. It is a country which has always been famous for intestinal wars, and even now is a kind of “debateable land”. I think it may therefore be assumed with some confidence that their descent may be claimed from the African domestic fowl.

1st With regard to your first qn whether any tendency to temporary infertility or sterility exists in any European Animal &c With regard to dogs there is no difference in West Africa as in England. They breed almost immediately, cats ditto, with regard to fowls it is very doubtful: I have no data to give

European women also become frequently pregnant in S. Leo on the whole I should think there might be a temporary infertility but only for a brief period, or until the animals were fully acclimated—

2. With regard to your 2d qn whether differences in constitution with reference to light or dark complexions in the European resisting the influences of an African climate, I am distinctly of opinion based on the results of a vast experience in human suffering, that a sanguineous or choleric, or light complexioned man stands the African climate twice as well and as long again as the melancholic or dark complexioned man— I am of a light complexion myself, and have suffered from yellow bilic remittent fevers, dysentery, ulcers &c and in fact most of the tropical diseases to which Europeans are subject and yet am still alive— I will give you an anedote which will prove at least that your qy has been solved some 18 years ago by an African potentate. When I was a boy, I went with a party to visit the King of Warré, who resided on an island situated on a communicating stream between the rivers Rio Formosa and Niger in the Bight of Benin. The King after alluding among other topics to the mortality that occurred so frequently among his European friends who resided at the mouth of the former river, and particularly to some recent deaths that had taken place turned round and looked me fully in the face, at the same time inquiring what age I was. “Ah! said his sable majesty! it is the right age to bring white men to Africa, the younger the better, and he is a true child of the sun, his fire (light) hair will save him from many bad diseases; he and others like him, will live”!!

London. Oct 20th The physiological explanation of the sanguineous or choleric temperament enjoying better health than the melancholic, may be chiefly attributed to the greater vascular organization of the skin of the former, by which from perspiration being more easily excited, they are enabled to throw off the febrile paroxysms, and relieve the congested states of the internal organs. It is true, they suffer severely while the disease exists, but they throw it off much sooner than the melancholic temperament. In the latter, disease is much slower in its progress, the cutaneous surface is more difficult to act upon, and the patient suffers greatly from despondency and permanent debility. I do not know whether you can understand me sufficiently, but I perhaps could explain my self better verbally. I may observe that I have always had less difficulty in curing light than dark complexioned men.

The only notices you can find of the Mammalia of the Isles of Anno Bon Principe and St Thomas, will be in some Portuguese works published on the subject, a general view of the animals (most of which have been imported from the main-land, and blended with European species) will be found in Barbot Astleys or Churchills collection of voyages— I have been to all these islands, and see no difference in the live stock from the main land. The voyagers (D. J. Santarem and Don Juan Escobar) were the first Portuguese that discovered and visited the island of Princes' &c I published a work some years since with the information relative to the earlier Portuguese voyagers, but it is unfortunately out of print or you should have had a copy with pleasure. I will however look out the information you require.

With regard to the soundings between Fernando Po, and the mainland, they vary from 24 to 36 or 40 fathoms, clayey mud, black or dark green, nearer the lowlands or alluvial flats— The soundings between Anno Bon and the continent are so deep that they have not been recorded. The water is blue [having] frequently passed down in that direction in sailing vessels.

Nov. 7. I hope you will excuse this imperfect account, the greater part of which has been written while laboring under sickness— With the exception of a slight enlargement of the spleen, I am now quite recoved, and have my usual John Bull looks—

Trusting to have the pleasure of seeing you in town soon | I remain | Yours ever sincerely | W. F. Daniell
C. Darwin Esqr. | Down—