MARCH, igoo. PLANT/E UTOWAN^E MILLSPAUGH. 7 



ing the sea against the iron-bound coast with terrible fury directly 

 under our stern. As soon as sufficient steam could be raised an 

 attempt was made to leave the dangerous anchorage, but before the 

 screw could gain a purchase upon the foam-lashed water our ship 

 struck the rocks, once, twice, thrice, and in the awful suspense 

 of the next moment, when we expected that each second would 

 be our last, the leadsman's welcome cry of "moving ahead, sir," 

 greeted us, sweet as a voice from home. In a few minutes more we 

 were out of danger and the yacht was beating to sea like a frightened 

 thing. Gaining the offing, we squared around the east end of the 

 island and came to anchor again under its lee, where we found pro- 

 tection from the storm. We shifted to a point farther west the next 

 morning and resumed collecting (//pj-72/p). April and May being 

 the principal floral months here, little was to be expected of plants in 

 form for collection in February, and a tramp of several miles the fol- 

 lowing day resulted in only eighteen species worthy of preservation 

 (1220-1237}. 



Leaving Cayman Brae on the nth, we ran across to Little Cay- 

 man, skirting its entire south shore in search of a safe landing-place, 

 but finding none we finally stood off and ran to the sotithwest, 

 reaching the harbor at Georgetown, Grand Cayman, after dark. 

 Daylight .brought the health officer, who with many expressions of 

 regret forbade us to land, as our last port was reported to be 

 infected with measles.. However on being informed of the nature 

 of our visit, he consulted with the authorities ashore and the 

 Governor himself came out to us and courteously gave me permission 

 to land at least a mile above the village, but cautioned me to keep 

 away from any person or dwelling that I might encounter. Avail- 

 ing myself of the privilege I made an extended trip along the shore 

 north of the port and into the borders of the lagoon (1238-1265}. 



We made an attempt in the afternoon with our sailing launch to 

 round Jackson Point south of the town in order to further search the 

 shores, but the wind gave place to heavy rain squalls and we were 

 compelled to work back to the yacht. These weather conditions 

 were followed by a dead calm and other indications of a norther. 

 At 5 P. M. a rising wind began to steadily shift to the westward, and 

 at six it became strong and tended northward, where it continued 

 during the night. In the early morning rain again fell in torrents, 

 the wind instantly shifted dead north and blew a gale, and again we 

 were caught on a lee shore. All hands were promptly on deck, and 

 with steam and sail we crept away from danger. As the other 

 shipping in the open roadstead made frantic attempts to secure safety 



