A WHITE DEER * 
I have often in hunting talk heard different and sometimes very 
strange accounts of the existence of white deer. 
I hare always doubted this, because no proof of the fact has ever 
been afforded me. Thus amongst others I recollect in 1840 many 
stories about the existence of a large pure white deer with red eyes 
in the neighbourhood of Batavia, near the shore at Antjol, and which 
had escaped the lead of many experienced shots by its invulnerabi¬ 
lity. Of this supernatural invulnerability the inhabitants above, all the 
natives, were convinced, while many Chinese partook in the belief, and 
even some Europeans remained in doubt until a well directed shot 
gave the animal in question into the hands of the fortunate hunter, 
when it appeared that the deer was not of a white but a grey colour, 
occasioned by its age being unusually great, so much so that its flesh 
was found scarcely eatable. The eyes too were not red, but like those 
of all other deer. On my arrival in Macassar in 1845 I again heard 
stories of white deer, which, it was said, were chiefly to be found in the 
territory of the principality of Goa. Each of my informants had this 
from hearsay, but nobody had seen such an animal with his own eyes. 
Consequently I still remained in doubt on this point. Not long ago 
however the eleve of the territorial revenues J. A. J. Voll, surprised 
me by the present of a young living deer which had been caught in 
the woods of Pancajene, and which is quite white in its colour. This 
animal, whose eyes and other attributes agree in all points with those 
of other deer, is now in my possession, and excites the astonishment 
of every visitor, European as well as most of the natives of these 
countries. 
For this reason I have considered that I should be rendering an 
agreeable service by mentioning this fact, and I request the favor of 
the Editor T. N. 1. giving a corner to these lines in his Journal. 
Maros D. F. Schaap, 
1 October 1846 Assistant Resident, 
* Translated from the Dutch (Tijd. v. N. 1.) 
