http://galton.org
<<prevLife of Francis Galton by Karl Pearson Vol 1 : image 0324next>>

OCR Rendition - approximate

Recognized HTML document
Previous Index Next

240   Life and Letters of Francis "ton

Society. Of the chief friends and acquaintances of Galton on this tour, Andersson ultimately followed the Galton northern route to the Cunene, the border river of the Portuguese possessions, and`the Galton eastern route by 'Tounobis to Lake Ngami. Later he undertook commercial expeditions and tried a mining settlement in Damaraland ; he had a stormy time with the Namaquas and an adventurous life, and ultimately died not far from Nangoro's capital. Nangoro's people came in 1858 into a controversy leading to much bloodshed with an expedition of the missionary Hahn, and Nangoro himself died some say foully or some say in fair fight at the same time. Galton himself expressed much regret at this attack on Nangoro's folk. The disastrous expedition of the missionary Hahn led incidently to the discovery of a lake said to be 25 to 30 miles long, by name Onondova, in lat. 21° and long. 19'; this is probably the origin of the mysterious Demboa Sea for which Galton vainly sought. Since the days of the German protectorate the resources, geography and people of Damaraland have been often and copiously illustrated and studied.

The publication of Galton's Tropical South Africa led to a letter from Charles Darwin, the first of a fairly long series, and marking the resumption of an old acquaintance. It runs as follows

13, SEA HOUSES, EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX. July 24th, 1853. DEAR GALTON,   _

You will probably be surprised, after the long intermission of our acquaintance, at receiving a note from me ; but I last night finished your volume with such lively interest, that I cannot resist the temptation of expressing my admiration at

your expedition, and at the capital account you have published of it. I have no doubt you have received praise, from so many good judges that you will hardly care to hear from me, how very much I admire the spirit and style of your book. What labours

and dangers you have gone through: I can hardly fancy how you can have survived them, for _you did not formerly look very strong, but you must be as tough as one of your own African waggons

If you are inclined at any time to send me a line, I should very much like to hear what your future plans are, and where you intend to settle. I so very seldom leave home, owing to my weakened health (though in appearance a strong man) that I had

hardly a chance of seeing you in London, though I have often heard of you from members of the Geographical Society.

I live at a village called Down near Farnborough in Kent, and employ myself in Zoology; but the objects of my study are very small fry, and to a man accustomed to rhinoceroses and lions, would appear infinitely insignificant.

We have come to this for a few weeks for sea-bathing with all our children, now numbering seven.


Previous Index Next