From C. A. J. Brooke   30 April 1871

My dear Sir

I am sending you a small apparatus for getting fire—used by the inhabitants of one river (Saribas) in the territory of Sarawak— I mentioned it in my work ‘Ten years in Sarawak’¹   The mode of obtaining fire is, by loading the end of the striker with tinder (contained in the shell)—then strike it home sharply with the handle of the striker in the palm of the right hand, & withdraw it immediately   I can give no explanation about its origin—& I have never seen it in use out of this one river   I have often obtained fire with the one I send, in fact there is no difficulty about it—if it is quite dry.

I see the publication of y^r work which I am very desirous to see & have sent for it—²

Believe me | y^rs sincerely | C Brooke | Rajah—

Charles Darwin Esq^r. &c &c

April 30^th/71 | Sarawak