The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Shorter, The Kafirs of Natal and the Zulu Country. CUL-DAR85.A69. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).

Darwin cited this in Descent 2: 347, n: "On the Kafirs, the Rev. J. Shooter, 'The Kafirs of Natal and the Zulu Country,' 1857 p. 1."

[A69]

Rev J. Shorter, The Kafirs of Natal 1857. p. 52-60.

Though wives are bought by the Kafirs, & girls are beaten severely by their fathers if they will not accept a chosen husband, it is clear from many facts given by Mr. S. that the girls have considerable powers of choice – a very ugly, though rich man has been known to fail entirely. And a girl will compel a man to show himself off on all sides first in front & then behind & "exhibit his paces", before she will agree to be betrothed. (Introduce after [character] W. Reade)

A girl has been known to propose herself to a man & not rarely to run away with favoured lover.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)