RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1868-1871]. The same distinguished traveler informs me that that with these people the 'tablier' or præcinctorium of the women. CUL-DAR85.A70. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. RN2
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).
[A70]
*29 The same distinguished traveler informs me that that with these people the 'tablier' or præcinctorium of the women, which to us is revolting, was formerly highly valued by the men; but now the fashion has changed, & he views this conformation as undesirable. p 22.
[This draft note paraphrases the 26 March 1867 letter to Darwin from Andrew Smith about secondary sexual characters of Hottentot women. See Correspondence vol. 15. This was published in Descent 2: 345 in Latin for the sake of delicacy: "Idem illustrissimus viator dixit mihi præcinctorium vel tabula fæminæ, quod nobis teterrimum est, quondam permagno æstimari ab hominibus in hac gente. Nunc res mutata est, et censet talem conformationem minime optandam est."
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 19 August, 2025