DARWIN CHARLES: (1809-1882) English naturalist, famous for his theory of evolution published in ...

DARWIN CHARLES: (1809-1882) English naturalist, famous for his theory of evolution published in On the Origin of Species (1859). A good A.L.S., Ch. Darwin, one page, 8vo, Down, Beckenham, Kent, 16th September n.y. (c.1870) to a gentleman, evidently a librarian. Darwin writes, in full, 'I want to consult soon two books of which I give titles below. Will you tell me on enclosed card, whether they are in Library, & how soon you could send them. I fear, however, you have them not´. The two books that Darwin lists at the foot of the letter are ´Lafitau´s Moeurs des [Sauvages] Americains´ and ´James narrative of Tanner´s 30 years, captivity among the N. American Indians´. With blank integral leaf. About EX

Joseph-François Lafitau´s Moeurs des sauvages américains was first published in Paris in 1724. The French Jesuit missionary worked in Canada in the early part of the 18th century and during this time Lafitau lived with Mohawk (Kanien’keha:ka) at Sault Saint Louis (Kahnawake) on the southern shore of the St Lawrence River. While doing so he made notes on his observations of their customs, most notably recognising the importance of women in Iroquois society. Moeurs des sauvages américains provided an overview of Iroquois life, from religion and politics to occupations, games and medicine, with illustrations to aid European readers.

John Tanner´s A Narrative of the Captivity and Advantures of John Tanner....During Thirty Years Residence Among the Indians in the Interior of North America was published in 1830. The autobiographical work provides an account of Tanner´s experiences as a captive among Native American tribes in North America during the early 19th century and remains an important historical record that offers a unique perspective on the complex and often tragic history of Native American-European interactions in North America.

It seems very likely that Darwin wished to consult the two books whilst conducting research for The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, which was published in 1871. In the work Darwin makes reference to the North American Indians. John Tanner, the child kidnapped by Indians, and his book on the subject, is referred to by John Lubbock in a letter to Darwin of 27th February 1870 (see Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter no. 7118, accessed on 4 October 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7118.xml)