Brig Levant
Nov. 29 Saturday, 1833
Ragged Island (Sat Key)
On Bahama N.of Cuba
Thomas
I have an opportunity of sending to the States
but how soon you will receive this I cannot tell-as the
Brig-bound to Maine has been lying here this fortnight
wind bound - We arrived here last night from Crooker
Island 90 miles N. E. another salt Key, but had no
salt on the beach - there heard that there was none at
Turks[?] Island - Rum Key etc. etc. and that if any at Rag Isl.
The price must be 25 per bu. The salt Isls here have
made but little salt here this season on account of
rains - I have now been fr. Port au Prince 2 weeks to
day - I was very glad to get fr. P au P. Days before
I left I was most violently attacked with a fever -
I must have caught cold merely by sitting in a house
one afternoon when the draught of air passed through
2 rooms -I felt nothing unusual till I went to bed
at 10 - had been previously reading for 2 hours -
When in bed I could not get asleep - head ached -
Pulse beat seemingly over 110 - Flesh hot - Pain in back -
Restless - for the whole night it appeared to me that I
did not at any time for 10 minutes together lay in one
position & I thought that I had not once for the night
lost myself in sleep-I never in my life before passed
such a restless night - I took some medicine twice in
the night & before 24 hrs. were passed I had taken 4 Seid-
litz Powders -the next day I could scarcely stand
upright for the weakness & pain in my back In 2.3 days
I felt much better could sweat a little - & went a [--?]
where at noon I had some soup given me & also at
tea time -That night Capt sailed -though he too
the night before had an attack similar to mine - which
kept him aboard all day that he had intended to sail.
If I had not thought that I should run some risk
by remaining-I should have stoped till Wheelrights Ship
was discharged & loaded & gone direct for N. Orleans -
P.au P.& most the Islands around here have been more
sickly this season than for years before - I think I
wrote you before that 2 of our seaman died of the Yellow [?] &
Black Vomit. The night we started the cook was coughing

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but his attack proved mild-it 4.5-days after I was
out before I could return to my "bread & beef" pre
viously. I had a little chicken soup &c but now
my health is good as ever.
Yesterday I thought my voyage in this vessel was at
an end-the entrance into the harbor here is not
¼ mile wide & before we attempted to enter we could
see the wave break all across it but we had had
our signal for a Pilot flying 2 hrs. - no signs or sight
of one -Sun ¾ hr. high-N.E. & squally & enter we must -
no beating out-of the light-Capt stood by the man at
the helm-Mate on bow sprit but could only se that
it was shoal water on account of the reflection
of the sun-In we went -Wind wave & tide all
forcing us on-When ½ way through the passage [--?] keel struck & after the wave passed she stopped! & then
at every wave thump! thump! Capt. [----?] for the masts
& was going to clue up up sail-but she moved every
time a wave came & finally after grinding the length
of her across a long flat rock she worked across
into sandy bottom where as she moved along she would
strike every separate Rock-Capt. thought she was stoped
for good-in a few minutes we were along side
the 2 brigs here & anchor down and then & not till then
the Pilot came aboard! The houses are 1 or 2 miles from
here & instead of putting out to sea he goes back be-
hind the Island & we were thumping on the rocks
where we first saw a sailboat - a mile off beat-
ing up towards the vessles in the harbor; for we
entered fr the E but on the west side of the harbor
are 2.3.small Rocks & the open sea a
Fortunately the vessel must have received but little
injury as she does not leak yet -
It would have been unpleasant to have been
cast away here -how soon or when I shall get to
N. Orleans I cannot now tell but the Capt. has gone
ashore & the time depends upon his getting salt.
I shall have something to say about the living aboard
of the Brig soon - Within a few days I have com-
menced a journal-- so that my letter will be
rather megre of incidents-I hope you have
receive my 2 letters concerning letters of Introduction
to be sent to N. Orleans to await my arrival there -

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Sunday - 30- Nov 12.am
Capt A has not returned from shore since
yesterday morning when he first went ashore
so I cannot tell how long we will remain
here or when I shall get to N. Orleans -
but when I do get there I shall endeavor to get
into business -& I have some want of a thick
suit of clothes - the brig by which I send this
is now getting under weigh - so that I have
not time to write more than sincerely wish
health & prosperity to you all ---- Chas
P.S. Capt. has this minute come on board & he will
stop here and take a load of salt - & we may have 7 or 8
days & then for N. Orleans possibly over the Banks
Farewell-
Be particular to forward me an introductory
letter to some physician at N Orleans if
possible-