After dinner, the captain made a trip in the gig, to Alloo, taking me for his interpreter, where we arrived in half an hour, and soon travelled up to the village. The natives received us with marks of gladness, and in a short time the house at which we stopped was surrounded by them, who came undoubtedly for the purpose of gratifying their curiosity, by gazing at us. We remained at the village about two hours, during which time we had considerable talk with two of the chief women, and made some small presents to the people, such as beads, &c. They did not treat us as they usually do visitors, with fruit, &c. there being at that time what we call a famine, which in their language, is Ingathah. After having taken leave of the natives, and walked about half the distance to the shore, we stopped to refresh ourselves under a fine cool shade. While in conversation on the manners and customs of the natives, an old man and woman approached us, who had acted towards me, during my residence among them, as father and mother. I immediately made them and their kindness to me known to the captain, who, in consideration of their humane treatment, rewarded them with a few beads and a handkerchief, for which they appeared thankful and grateful--telling them at the same time, the presents were to recompense their hospitality to me, and enjoining on them at all times to be friendly to the whites, and a reward would certainly await them. It being near the close of the day, we left Alloo, and having a fair wind, reached the schooner before dark. The next morning, Dec. 5th, being very pleasant, all hands were employed in procuring wood for the schooner--some in cutting it down, and others in boating it off. Our carpenter had been engaged for a few days, at Milly; to instruct and assist the natives in repairing a canoe. The distance was four or five miles, and the captain wanting the carpenter, set sail for Milly in his gig, and soon arrived there; where he learned that the carpenter had repaired the canoe, to the great satisfaction of the natives, who expressed a strong desire that he might be permitted to remain among them on the Island; but the captain informed them he could not spare him. When the natives saw the carpenter packing up his tools, they expressed to me an expectation that the tools would be left with them as a present. We left the natives, and reached the schooner a little before sunset; the captain feeling anxious for the fate of the launch, as nothing yet had been heard of the fortune which had attended her, or the men in her.