Potosi Missouri Sunday [Mch 21st 1830]

1/2 after 9 o'clock J. F. Perry started on a visit or rather for the purpose of viewing Austins Colony in Texas, arrived at Hercu- lanium on the same evening there I had to remain the 22d and 23rd waiting for the steam Boat North America for a passage to New Orleans. Met James A. Austin who starts in company with me with a view to settle himself in Texas, the S. B. N america ari'd the eving of the 23d during my stay here the S. B Diana passed down for Louisvill Three Steam Boats passed up 24th wednesday, arrived at the cliff of Selma here we remain'd taking in Lead untill 25th thirsday 12 o'clock started about 12 o'clock passed the S. B.——— for St Louis

March 31st Wednesday Land at New Orleans about 1/2 past 2 o'clock P M. remained in New Orleans untill friday the 10th day of April at 12 oclock saild in the Schooner Pocahontas for the port of Brazoria in Texas, Capt Carpenter master with 12 Cabin pasengers viz Mr Mills and Brother Mr Grason Mr Dawson Mr Jameson. M Brown Mr. Jones and Mr Lefwick of virga and Syghts from New Yourk

James A Austin and myself and about 25 or 80 deck pasengers among home [whom] are a nomber of weomen and children among them was Majr Brygs

friday night from 8 oclock in the morning lay at anker until morning 7 or 8 miles above the S. W Pass of the Mississippi

Saturday morning 11th histed sail about 8 oclk am took in the Pilot a few miles above the bar. got to sea and discharged the Pilot lay to anker for [four] or five miles S. W of the bar for want of wind until

Sunday Morning 12th histed sail under a light wind

Tuesday morning about 9 or 10 oclk in sight of Galveston Island said to be 45 miles long on which stands only 3 solitary Live oak at some distance apart I suppose Judging from the distance we was from them that they must stand one or two miles apart came too oft the month of the Brazoses in the evening there not being water to carry us over the bar lay at ancker untill Wednesday Morning 15th I with a nomber passengers went on shore in the Boat to Mr. Micheles who lives emediately at the mouth of the Brazoes L 28° 57' Longetuted Mr Mitchel has a small salt works in opperation from which he makes from 8 to 10 bushel pr day worth at the works $1.00

60 Gal. water make 1 bushel all along the sea coast is prairia and salt marches for two or thr[ee] miles back when the appearance of fine timber, the soil on the Prarie is sand except in the salt Marches, which is clay, the land appears to be level as far as can be seen back (Michel makes use of drift wood entirely for to make salt of which there is a great abundance but up along the coast and more particularly near the mouth of the Brazos nothing can be raised near the sea cost that groes high in concequence of the heavy winds off sea good Brick can be made anywhere on the sea board. Mr. Michals chemney is built with very good Brick made close to his hous—the cattle appears to be in fine order and the place healthy

Wednesday 15th the vessel got over the bar after much dificulty she struck verry hard on it and the wind beat her back into a bason formed by the bar and a bar which puts out from West side of the brases emideately at the mouth but with two or three hours hard work she was got into the Brasos where we lay until thirsday morning saild and warped up the Brasos, This day about 15 or 16 miles Friday morning 16th. myself and 4 others left the vessel in the boat and arrived at Brasoria at 2 oclock P. M. I went in compy with Sayer. to Josiah H Bells 12 miles north on the San Felepe road that evening next morning Saturday 17th returned to Brazoria and found the vessel had arrivd returnd to Mr. Bells, 18 Sunday returned to Brazoria for James Austin to [ok] him to squir Bells then left, borrowed a mule from squire Bell, and continued on at 4 oclock P M. in company with a Mr Anderson to se Col Austin who we heard was in the neighbourhood of Harrisburg. cross the brasos that evening 12 miles from Bells in a N E. direction at what is call'd Boliver where a Town had been Laid out and abandoned. Mr Warren Hall was at this place where we remaind for the night was very politely treated by Mr Hall continued our course in the morning 6 miles through the Brasos Bottom which very heavy timbered and great quantities of cain growing on it to Mr Hodges where we took Breakfast it rained considerable this morning here we met with Wm Harris Esqr who informed us col Austin was on Galveston Bay or Dickersons Bayou as he had left him the day before on Clear Creek about 25 Miles distant, and agreed to get a hand or pilot us himself if we would wait untill Tuesday'morning which we did remain at Mr Harris and about 1/2 mile from where we breafasted where we was verry friendly treated Tuesday Morning Started in compy with a Mr Boatright crossed the head water of Chocolate Bayou Halls creek dickersons Bayou and Cleare Creek recrossed Clear Creek and camped on Dickesons Bayou wednessday morning 21st continued a East course and struck—Galveston Bay at davises Point at bout 9 oclock A M where we found Col. Austin just ready to start with the Surveyors who we [re] meandering the bay coast and Dickesons Bayou Mr Anderson Started from this place for St. Felepe by the way of Harrisbourg. I remained with Col Austin and the Surveyors untill Sunday morning 1st May when Col. A. and myself left the surveyors for Harrison on the brasos got to Mr. Hall that night who lives just at the Timber of the Brasos Bottom at the edge of the Prararie Monday May 2d left Col A at Squire Harris he remained here to get some provisions for the surveyors and was to met them at the mouth of Pleasent creek on Chocolate Bayou and agreed to meet me in San Felipe on Monday 9th May. I returned to Mr. Bells to see James Austin and found him geting some better but still in a verry delecate and doutfull state of health Mr. Bell taking particular and motherly care of him and if he can be restored attention and good nursing he must recover under his care, remained here two days and a half—and then left in comy. with Squire Bell on fridy the 7 for San Philipe de Austin, arrived at san Felepe Satarday the 8th after dark. San Philepe is verry pleasently situated on the W. side of the Brasoses 85 miles from the mouth on a high praria—the prararia comes to the river at this place and the Bank on the side the Town is situated is much higher than any I have saw on the river it [is) said it is 61 or 60 feet high there is perhaps------famalies residing in it among which there is 3 Taverns 7 or 8 Trading establishments grog shops and Stores one Black smith shop one printing office.

The country from the mouth of the Brasos for five or six Miles is all a prararia near the sea shore sandy then low and marchey. gradually rises a little untill the timber commences is generaly a clay land, and looks poor much appearences of Craw fish, although the land looks unproductive, there is emence coats of fine Grass growing on it and affords emence pasturage for Stock of all kind, from where the Timber commences on the Brasos the Bottom of the Brassos are heavely timbered as far up as I have yet been say from one to six and eight miles on each side of the river and in some places wider the timber consists of live oak Large quantities of it Black- oak Bed oak post oak white oak pecan Ash mulberry Ellam cottonwood and sundry other not recollected the undergroth is wild peach sasafras