Friday, December 19th.—­The gale continues with the tenacity of a norther, this being the third day.  This is but a foretaste of the weather we may expect in the Gulf of Mexico.  Being now in the Gulf of Honduras, there is but a small strip of land between us and it.

Saturday, December 20th.—­As ugly a day as one often sees, with a great variety of wind and weather.  In the morning the wind was fresh from the N.E., with flying clouds, and a bright sun, now and then obscured.  At about 9 A.M. a cloud bank in the north began to rise, and by 11.30 we had a densely overcast sky, with heavy rain-squalls.  I was running for Cape Catoche, and was greatly disappointed at not getting a meridian altitude, especially after the promise of the morning.  At about 11.30 made the land—­two islands, as described by the man at the masthead.  At 4 P.M. sounded in twenty-eight fathoms.  Weather threatening a gale.  At six, double-reefed the topsails, and sounded in twenty-five fathoms.  I shall endeavour to feel my way around the Cape, and gradually bear up for the westward.  The bank is apparently clean and safe, but still groping one’s way in the dark in strange waters is a somewhat nervous operation.

Sunday, December 21st.—­We doubled Cape Catoche very successfully last night, hauling around it gradually in from twenty-five to thirty fathoms, and ran along in the latter depth all night, course W. and W. by S., sounding every hour.  The wind blew half a gale, and the weather looked threatening.  This morning the wind hauled more to the eastward, and moderated somewhat.  The sky still looks wintry, and the sun sheds a lurid light through a semi-transparent stratum of dull grey clouds.  At 11 A.M. mustered the crews and at meridian passed a large steamer (hull down) steering to the eastward, probably a French ship of war from Vera Cruz.

Monday, December 22nd.—­Ran on during the night in a very regular line of soundings of twenty fathoms, on a W.S.W. course.  At 9 P.M., having run within about twenty miles of the Areas, anchored for the night in twenty fathoms.

Tuesday, December 23rd.—­At 9 A.M. called all hands up anchor; and at ten we were under way, steering W.S.W.; at meridian observed six miles to the northward of the Areas, and altered course to S.W.  At 1.30 P.M. made the Areas half a point on the starboard-bow, distant about twelve miles; and at sunset came to anchor in eleven fathoms of water, with the south Area bearing N.W. by N. In the course of the afternoon our coal-ship, which I had ordered to rendezvous here, hove in sight, and joined us at the anchorage a few minutes after we came to.