Journal Palmetto Mining Company Voyage

Sometimes from four to Sise [six] funerals in the day. These Natives are all Buried here without a Coffin.

We took passage on board the Hamburgh [Hamburg] Ship Sophie at $150 each four of our Company has been Sick With the climate feaver [fever]. We Went a board [aboard] on the 9th May on which day at 4 four oclock [o'clock] in the Ev.'g [Evening] we left the harbour [harbor] of Panama and also left four of our passengers a Shore [ashore], they were onboard in the early part of the day, then Must go to get Some fruit for Which they have lost their passage about 7 or Eight oclock [o'clock] on the Night we Started from panama [Panama]. There was

a Man Jumped over board [overboard] and was Seen no more, he was a native of Germany and belonged to a Company from N. york [York]. The cause of his death is Said to be in consequence of a Love affair. We were Sailing at the rate of Seven nots [knots] per hour as Soon as the Alarm Was given the Ship hove too. Backed her Sails and Sent a boat in Search but it was no use, as they could not find Any thing [anything] But a plank that Some of the passengers put out thinking he might lay holt [hold] of it, and help to Save himself there is nothing we Seen as yet to attrack [attract] attention. So far on the Pacific

there has been a great many of our passengers Sick from our first Sailing. The four men Belonging to our Company took Sick again after going a board [aboard] Ship and one of them the stoutest Man in the Palmetto Co. Died on the Seventh day of our Sailing from Panama

Michael McGrath Native of Co. [County] Limerick Ireland and Resident of Charleston, S. Ca. for the last ten years. Died on Board of the Ship Sophie on her way to California on the Morning of the 16th of May 1849, about 9 OClock [O'Clock]

in the Morning and he was buried in the Pacific oceon [Ocean]. Sowed [sewed] up in a piece of Canvass [canvas], he was a Member of the Palmetto Mining Compy [Company], and his unescpected [unexpected] death is lamented by all his Comrades to Whom he was atatchd [attached].

May he Rest in Peace [written vertically] Amen ___________________________

The Rainy Season comences [commences] on the Isthmus about the last of April and hangs on three or four months. These Natives Call this the Winter of New Granada May 25th, We are 16 days out and have Made but very little head Way as the Wind has been a head

for the last 14 days We have more or less rain every day with a Cloudy atmosphere, which makes it rather unpleasant for passengers of whom we have about 130. We have taken with the harpoon Some dolphin and Bonetto [Bonito] or Spanish Mackrel [Mackerel]. We have also harpooned three very fine Turtle, in all we had fine Turtle which made a fine dinner for Sunday. We have Seen a great Variety of Whales, also large flocks of Sea fowl, Commonly Called booby they will rest on the rigging and will allow to be handled. Shurely [surely] no one can call these Birds wild, when they will perch along Side of you and