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4A thought! we were between the Great & little Cayman islands - but at 2 am on the 9th there was at the helm heard a noise as of breakers on the Starboard bow - The Masts & Mate asleep & before the latter could be roused we were another 10 minutes of our destruction. It was dark & cloudy - After considerable confusion we stood to the A & W & at daylight we only found ourselves ½ a mile from the 'Cayman Brac'. A port & fair breeze for N & E. ? extracted us from our difficulty & we passed between the Two Caymans - This 2 unclear words to have no salutary effect upon our Captain - the bottle was his only companion. 11th Made Cape Mandes island of Cuba, it is low & this part has the reputation of producing some of the finest sorts of Tobacco - At Noon made for R. Antonio? at & laying up about N.W. 13th Sailed through Shoals of Portuguese Man of War - Sea Wind & drift was 16 feet in with N.E. Gales cooling the temperature of the air from 85º to 60º. 18th 8 am. Flight of Wild Duck - drift wood & Sounded in 35 fms at noon in 20 fms. Northerly gale increased with these ahead 19th. 6. am ? noon 56º when the land to the E of Galveston seen. 20th A deputy Pilot came on bd. but we were fortunate in the amount of ? the able pilot of Galveston to carry us over the Bar the following day. Glad enough was I to get on shore once more safe on Terra Firma. I 3 unclear words her that the Captain