way. The morning before my arrival, Vigours had
been sent on board the _Lion_, and Namu was perfectly at his ease,
apparently ashamed of his letter, and quite unwilling to explain it.
This, of course, I could not allow, and he ended by confessing that he
had been much concerned to find his people using the sign of the cross,
but since he had learned the explanation his mind was satisfied. For
Vigours had the Evil Eye, a common thing in a country of Europe called
Italy, where men were often struck dead by that kind of devil, and it
appeared the sign of the cross was a charm against its power.

"'And I explain it, Misi,' said Namu, 'in this way: The country in
Europe is a Popey country, and the devil of the Evil Eye may be a
Catholic devil, or, at least, used to Catholic ways. So then I reasoned
thus: If this sign of the cross were used in a Popey manner it would be
sinful, but when it is used only to protect men from a devil, which is a
thing harmless in itself, the sign too must be, as a bottle is neither
good nor bad, harmless. For the sign is neither good nor bad. But if the
bottle be full of gin, the gin is bad; and if the sign be made in
idolatry bad, so is the idolatry.' And, very like a native pastor, he
had a text apposite about the casting out of devils.

"'And who has been telling you about the Evil Eye?' I asked.

"He admitted it was Case. Now, I am afraid you will think me very
narrow, Mr. Wiltshire, but I must tell you I was displeased, and cannot
think a trader at all a good man to advise or have an influence upon my
pastors. And, besides, there had been some flying talk in the country of
old Adams and his being poisoned, to which I had paid no great heed; but
it came back to me at the moment.

"'And is this Case a man of a sanctified life?' I asked.

"He admitted he was not; for, though he did not drink, he was profligate
with women, and had no religion.

"'Then,' said I, 'I think the less you have to do with him the better.'

"But it is not easy to have the last word with a man like Namu. He was
ready in a moment with an illustration. 'Misi,' said he, 'you have told
me there were wise men, not pastors, not even holy, who knew many things
useful to be taught--about trees, for instance, and beasts, and to print
books, and about the stones that are burned to make knives of. Such men
teach you in your college, and you learn from them, but take care not to
learn to be unholy. Misi, Case is my college.'