26 HISTORICAL EVIDENCES [Parr I. 
This specimen has been very recently recovered from oblivion, and is now one of the 
chief treasures of the Royal Museum at Copenhagen, to which I shall again refer. 
15. The latest known testimony as to the existence of Dodos in Mauritius is contained 
in a MS. in the British Museum (Sloane MSS. 3668. Plut. exi. F.) for a reference to which, 
as for many other valuable suggestions, I am indebted to J. Wolley, Esq. of Edinburgh, who 
has taken much interest in the history of the Dodo, and has liberally communicated the results 
of his researches. This document is entitled “ A coppey of Mr. Benj. Harry’s Journall when he 
was cheif mate of the Shippe Berkley Castle, Captn. Wm. Talbot then Commander, on a 
voyage to the Coste and Bay, 1679, which voyage they wintered at the Maurrisshes.” 
The Journal is little more than a ship’s log, containing many rough observations, perhaps 
valuable, of a brilliant comet. They left Deptford 19th Nov. 1679, and on their return from 
India, bemg unable to weather the Cape of Good Hope, they determined to make for “ the 
Marushes,” the 4th June, 1681. They saw land on the 3d July, and on the 11th they began 
to build huts, and they had much labour in spreading their cargo out to dry :— 
“ After all these turmoyles, and various accidents, wee the beginning 7 ber. brought.all to a period: 
one parte of our misery wass that that time wee designed for recreation wee were forct to impt. in 
Labour. 
“The ayre whilst wee have been here hath been very temperate neither over hott nor over cold : 
itt hath been showery 8 or 4 Days sucksessively, and showery in the night, sometimes a Sea Brees hittle 
wind morning and evenings. 
“ Now having a little respitt I will make a little description of the Island, first of its Producks then 
of itts parts: first of winged and feathered ffowle the less passant, are Dodos whose jflesh is very hard. 
a small sort of Gees, reasonably good Teele, Curleves, Pasca fflemingos, Turtle Doves, large Batts, many 
small Birdes which are good. 
“The Dutch pleading a propriety to the Island because of their settlement have made us pay for 
goates 1d per pound or > piece of $ per head, the which goates are butt reasonably good, these wild, as 
allso the Deer which are as large as I believe any in the world, and as good fflesh in their seasons; for 
these 3 pie. of 8 per head, Bullocks large 6 pie. of 8 per head ; [that] ys for victualling, heer are many 
wild hoggs and land turtle which are very good, o‘%er small creators on the Land, as Scorpions and 
Musketoes, these in small numbers, Ratts and ffleys a multitude, Munkeys of various sorts. 
“Tn the woodes Eaboney, Box, Iron wood blacke and read, a false but not lasting fire, various 
sortes of other wood, though heavy yett good for fiermg. 
“Tn ye Sea and River, green tortoise very good, Shirkes, Doggs, Mulletts, Jackabeirs (butt nott 
good though some 70 lb), Breams, Pomfletts, Plaise, a ffishe like a Salmond, and heer soe called but 
full of small Boanes forked, severall sortes of read ffish butt nott houlsome, various sortes of small ffish 
for the Pann, good oysters and Crabes, Ells large and good. 
“ Herbage ffruite and Graine, ffrench or Cidney Beanes, Patatoes, sallating ; Pumplemuses, oranges, 
Jumboes, Watter and musk “Melones, Sugar Cannes, Pumkines, Tobacco that Hellish weed, and many 
other things forgotten.” 
ao 
