QUOTE : Why, it was much the same as with us. When a man died Cheslin would be sent for; there would be a piece of bread on the dead man’s breast; he would eat it, taking the sins upon himself. Then they would push a silver piece into his hand and thrust him out of the house, spitting on him and throwing stones as he ran away.’ ‘I thought it was only a tale, nowadays,’ said James. ‘No, no. It’s common enough, under the silence. But it seems that the seamen look upon it in a more awful light than other people. He let it out and they all turned against him immediately. His mess expelled him; the others will not speak to him, nor allow him to eat or sleep anywhere near them. There is nothing physically wrong with him, yet he will die in about a week unless I can do something.