My Dear Darwin

In your second volume of your last work I find you mention having heard something from M^r Galton.¹ Now this proves to me you must be acquainted with him and as I am very anxious to have some conversation with him I write to say you will greatly oblige me if you can give me his address. I am very desirous to hear what he can say on certain points connected with the Damaras of Great Namaqualand² and I think it quite possible he may oblige me if I can only get at him for I have not his personal acquantance. I thought Moffat³ would have been able to tell me what I want but I find I am mistaken

I would like to have a little fight with with you and a great fight with Lubbock & M’Lenan touching what constitutes marriage among primitive people⁴   I agree with you to a great extent but I wholly disagree with them   I have never either seen or heard of savages who for a moment recognise any women as common to a community unless such as are by trade prostitutes, one chief going on a visit to another will besides supplying him with food and habitation for the time being also supplies him with a wife but although such is the practi[ce] with all as well as chiefs such practice if carried out without being in conformity with the desire of the husband would most probably cost the visitors life   I wish I had somebody in London to take over such matters now and then   I have no faith in what men state or write who have not seen something

Yours most faithfully | Andrew Smith—