— 36 — 



wifh the amazing whiteness of the sea (a phenomenon often 

 observed since) ; and both frequently name the same ships 

 as forming part of the fleet. These facts appear equally in 

 others of Altham's letters a copy of [which has been kindly 

 placed in my hands by Dr Wilmot, and in Herbert's publish- 

 ed ' Travels.' 



To come, however, to the two letters which I exhibited. 

 They bear the same date, and were doubtless written to be 

 sent by different hands, both (as before stated) are adressed 

 to the same person, and begin : — 



" Right wo^' and looinge brother." 

 " The first and longest, after recounting the writer's ad- 

 ventures proceeds : 



" We were ordered by y*^ said Councell [of India] to goe to 

 " an Hand called y® mavrifcius lying in 20d of South latt where 

 " we arrived y" 28th of m ly ; this Hand having many goates 

 " hogs and cowes upon it and very strange fowles called by 

 " y"^ iportingals DoDo which for the rareness of the same 

 " the like beinge not in y" world but here I have sent you 

 " one by n^' perce : who did arrive with y*^ ship wilHam at 

 " this Hand y'' 10th of June." 

 '* It concludes : 



" your 7nost louinge brother 



" Emmanuell Altham. 

 " June y« 18th 1628. 



'' ffro y" mauritius." 

 And there is a ]30stcript, writen across the margin, as fol- 

 lows : — 



" of m'' perce you shall receive a iarr of ginger for my Co- 

 " sins your daughters : and a bird called a DoDo" if it lives 

 Its supersomption is. 



