Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/176

 The white shark is worshiped by the natives as one of their gods. They are considered sacred and are never harmed by them.

On the morning of the 18th of June David Bateman, of the brig Porpoise, breathed his last and his spirit took  its flight to God who gave it. He was buried in our

CANNIBAL CHIEF, VENDOVI.

small garden on the hill, close by the observatory, with martial honors. The impressive burial service of the Episcopal Church was read by our chaplain; three volleys were fired over the grave by the marines; the earth  thrown in, and the grave filled up; thus the melancholy  scene was closed.

While the Peacock was at Rewa surveying the island,