We commenced taking in a cargo of sugar, which was brought alongside in lighters. I went on shore on liberty one day and fell in with one of the Manila men who came in the ship. He told me that a Spanish merchant had been talking with him about the islands and that he wanted a man who understood the language of the natives to go in his ship, which he was daily expecting from Canton. I went with this man to the merchant's house, told him my business and got his terms. He offered me forty dollars per month to go as second officer of his ship, but as she had not arrived we could go no farther. He treated me very politely, and I took leave of him with very high opinion. It had been so long since I had been in civilized society other than on ship-board that this merchant's gentlemanly courtesy made a deep impression on my mind. I returned on board the Clay and informed the captain of the Spanish merchant's offer and offered to continue in the ship if he would give me monthly wages. He offered me low wages, which I accepted rather than go with a crew of half Spanish and Indians. We had about finished loading the Clay, when the brig Quill, of Salem, arrived with orders to take from the Clay such men as liked to return to the islands with an addition to their wages, and to exchange mates. I went on board the Quill to see what wages I could get. The captain offered me fourteen dollars a month, for which I agreed to go, so I took my month's advance to get such articles as I needed and returned to the Clay. The government here would not permit us to change crews, so the captains agreed to sail in company, and exchange after we got to Angea point. About the middle of March, 1829, we got under way in company with the Quill. We had a very good passage across the China sea until we came to the straits of Gasper. Here we had much light and calm weather. We worked through and on entering the straits of Sunda saw two large prows (a kind of vessel used in the East Indian seas) to windward, heading down for us. A gun was fired from the Clay at them, when they hauled their wind and stood off. We continued our passage through the straits with light winds and pleasant weather. About the latter part of April we came to anchor at Angea point, stopped here two or three days and got some water, and Mr. Driver, with two seamen besides myself, joined the Quill. Late in the afternoon both vessels got under way and stood out from the land. During the night, the weather being thick and squally, we got foul of the Clay. She struck us on the larboard bow and did us considerable damage. The Clay lost her jibboom, injured her head and stove her quarter boat. Next day we came to an anchor under North Island and repaired damages, then got under way and continued our course through the strait. After passing Java Head we parted company with the Clay.