plunge into misfortune by sailing ahead, since in such dense fog which appears to be like a kind of smoke, the harbor with the sandbanks before it cannot be reached, anyway, without a pilot. So then we are laying here not very far distant from land, held fast by the huge chains of the anchors and soundly rocked by the powerful waves of the Gulf without being able to enjoy a view of the nearby land, as we should only be 4 miles* from New Orleans and 7 miles* from Galveston. With a considerable west wind, the air was already sharply cold and damp; today it is no less damp and much colder than yesterday, therefore very unfriendly and unpleasant. Since the passengers have a longing desire to be set on land, which under these circumstances cannot be satisfied they are altogether plagued by boredom. Some, therefore, lying and sleeping, others through mischievous pranks on deck or through looking fixedly into the blustering waves; still others, through shooting at the birds flaying by, seek to shorten the time. Thus a pretty, considerably large, woodpecker-type bird, which had set upon the rigging of the ship was shot by a passenger and was eviscerated and stuffed by a medical man. Just now one noticed a significant number of brown fish of considerable size near the ship, which swam along with the surging waves, which presented themselves to the eye, soon completely exposed by the waves, then soon covered again. As soon as the fog was driven away and the air was bright again, the anchors are to be drawn-up again and navigation continued toward Galveston.

Monday, the 24th of November, 1845, the wind became more moderate and came from the east; also, the fog was not so dense anymore, one could see farther into the distance; still the sun, during rising had a dark red color and gave no glow after it had already risen to a significant height on the horizon. Towards midday, we could see land fairly near through the fog and could quite clearly distinguish a single large house with white walls. Immediately, the small sloop was let into the sea, boarded by the helmsman and four sailors, and steered towards it,