3?6 AN ACCOUNT OF 
They had alfo an idea of an evil Spirit, that often coun- 
tcradled human affairs; a very particular inftance of this 
was Seen when Mr. Barker (a mo ft valuable member in 
the Englifh fociety) fell backward from the fide of the veffel, 
then on the flocks ; Raa Kook, who happened to be pre- 
fent, obferved thereupon, that it was owing to the un¬ 
lucky wood our people had fuffered to remain in the veffel, 
that the evil fpirit had occafioned this mifchief to Mr. Bar¬ 
ker. 
In the paffage. fromPELEw to China, fomewhat was dis¬ 
covered in Prince Lee Boo, pretty fimilar to what is com¬ 
monly called fecond fight ;— at the time when he was (as 
before mentioned) very Sea-fick, he Said how much he was 
concerned at the diftreSs his father and friends were feeling, 
who knew what he was then Suffering.—The Same anxiety 
operated on him, on their account, when he perceived his 
diffolution drawing near, as we fhall have occafion to men¬ 
tion hereafter. 
They certainly entertained So flrong an idea of Divination, 
that whenever any matter of moment was going to be un¬ 
dertaken, they conceived they could, by Splitting the leaves 
of a particular plant that was not unlike our bull-rufli, and 
meaSuring the ftrips of this long narrow leaf on the back 
of their middle finger, form a judgment whether it would 
or would not turn out prosperous : this was observed by Mr. 
M. Wilson, in his firft vifit to the King at Pelew ; and 
on 
