418 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



all trade carried on to supply the ships; he always proved himself a 

 good officer, and was one for whom I felt much regard. As some- 

 times happens, he had a presentiment of his own death, and had 

 long been impressed with the opinion that he would not survive to 

 return to his country. His death produced a great impression upon 

 Vendovi, for Mr. Vanderford was the only person with whom that 

 chief could converse, and a sort of attachment had sprung up between 

 them, arising from the officer's long residence with Tanoa at Ambau, 

 and his familiarity with the manners and customs of the Feejee 

 Islands. Besides, Vendovi looked forward to his becoming a protector 

 on their arrival in the United States. While conversing with Mr. 

 Vanderford, some time before his death, he expressed his willingness 

 to take charge of Vendovi, and to befriend him on our arrival at 

 home ; for, although the Feejeeans had despoiled him of all his pro- 

 perty, they had nevertheless saved his life, and for that, or rather for 

 refraining from devouring him, he felt some gratitude, and would have 

 shown it to Vendovi. 



Poor Vendovi could not be persuaded to look at his friend's corpse ; 

 his spirits evidently flagged ; a marked change came over him ; and 

 he no doubt felt as though he had lost his only friend. His own 

 disease, henceforward, made rapid strides towards a fatal termination, 

 and he showed that such was the case by his total disregard of every 

 thing that passed around him, as well as by his moping, melancholy 

 look. On the 24th, the remains of Mr. Vanderford were committed 

 to the deep, with the usual service and honours. The same day we 

 experienced a current to the northwest ; and the crew, after having 

 been for ten days afflicted with colds and influenza, began rapidly to 

 recover. 



On the 25th of March, we reached latitude 23° S., and longitude 

 68° E., and enjoyed, until the 30th, delightful weather and strong 

 trades, enabling us to make two hundred and fifty miles a day. On 

 the latter day we overtook and spoke the ship Clarendon, of Boston, 

 from Canton for New York. On the 2d of April, a strong current 

 was felt setting towards the northwest; on the 3d, it was found to set 

 west-northwest. We had squally weather on the 4th, accompanied 

 by frequent lightning, thunder, and rain. This storm lasted for three 

 hours. We then ran out of it, having fine weather again, and a clear 

 sky overhead; leaving as it were behind us the storm, which seemed 

 to occupy half the firmament, with many beautiful and well-defined 

 rainbows. I was told, at the Cape, that this phenomenon of the sky 

 half covered with clouds, was frequently seen by those dwelling there, 

 or navigating the seas in its neighbourhood ; and, on its occurrence, 



