to obtain accurate information about the land which lay there before our view, but could not be identified due to the dense fog. After 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the envoys returned with the joyful report that the land laying before us is the island of Galveston, with the city and harbor of the same name, into which we are to enter. They also brought along a pilot, who shall guide us into the harbor. What joy this must have given the passengers is easy to imagine, when one considers that after a sea voyage of almost seven weeks, every heart longs to be able to set foot on firm ground, the sooner the better. The helmsman also brought from the land at the same time a fairly sizable piece of beef, some wheat bread and radishes, as well as a black, fairly large suckling pig.

The sight of the first American-Texan products raised the joy even more, because this seemed to confirm the favorable opinion which one had formed of the land. Immediately after the pilot, helmsman, and the sailors had strengthened themselves with nourishment, the anchors were lifted, and we continually crossed back and forth, thereby to reach the favorable position and the point which was necessary to enter the harbor. After sundown, when it had already grown completely dark, the anchor was thrown out again. All retired in the hope to be in Galveston early the following day. Only the sailors, who were still busy binding the sails to the masts, made forceful alarm that a sailing ship was near us and was steering toward us and that we were in danger of being wrecked. Through the alarm many were frightened out of their rest and led to the deck, where in the dark of night one sighted a swift sailing ship with full sails which shot past us and dropped anchor beside us. To the Captain’s question through a speaking tube, what ship is it? Came the answer: A Bremen ship with emigrants to Texas, named George Delius, which left Brake three days earlier than we did and left the Bremen harbor and went to sea one day earlier than we did.

Tuesday, the 25th of November, 1845, even before sunrise all passengers