By invitation of the chief, we accompanied him to the island of Engow, and while there some of the natives from the mountains saw a vessel steering for the island of Ovalau. They came and reported to the chief. I was of course very anxious to get to her, feeling very certain that it was the Clay, as it was about the time that Capt. Vandaford had agreed to be back (July, 1828). But the wind was blowing a gale and we were unable to leave for two days. At length it moderated and we got underway for Ovalau. We had not been out long before it blew so hard we had to take in both sails (the large canoes always carry a small sail for stormy weather) and steer for the nearest land, which was Butcheak. We anchored there, went on shore, and got some supper. The following day, the weather having moderated, we again started for Ovalau, where we arrived in the forenoon. On landing, the natives informed us that a ship was at anchor on the opposite side of the island. We (David and I) got a small canoe and started immediately for the ship, which proved to be the Clay. As we neared the vessel, the captain hailed us to know if it was David, and on being answered in the affirmative, immediately invited us on board, and inquired why we had not visited him before. After telling him all the circumstances, he engaged us to assist him in procuring another cargo. He wanted me as interpreter on board and David to assist Mr. Driver on shore. He had concluded not to go to Ambow with the ship, as there were less natives here and he would not be troubled with so many visitors as at Ambow, the distance being so great they would not come off so often. We were about fifteen miles from Ambow. The old chief visited us once in a while, and the captain always made him presents and told me to tell him if he saw anything he wanted to ask for it, which pleased him very much. Mr. Driver found his beche de mer house in tolerable good order, so that he was soon ready for business and the natives were as ready for trade as ever, but the beche de mer was not so plentiful as on the former occasion. While lying here the captain had a disturbance with his chief officer, put him in irons and turned him out of the cabin. At one time Capt. Vandaford went on a visit to the trading officer on shore, leaving the ship in charge of the third mate, now acting as second mate. On our return next day we found the utmost confusion had prevailed during our absence. The officer had made too free with the liquor and imagined that the boat was cut off and that the natives were about to attack the ship. He had the guns all loaded and was running about the deck like a madman, cursing and abusing everyone. Though nothing serious happened, the captain was careful how he left him in future.