ABOUT THE LINE. 1751. 107 



.namely, all the men were called upon the 

 deck, and fome pails full of water were thrown 

 upon thofe who had not croffed the Line be- 

 fore, and thofe who have very often partake 

 of the bathing. It appears from Holms's 

 Defcription of New Sweden, that this cere- 

 mony was ufual in 1642, on his voyage to 

 America. The firft caufe that gave rife to it 

 is unknown. It is true, in the neighbourhood 

 of the Line, it is ufual to warn the mips every 

 morning and evening witrrfea-water, that the 

 intolerable heat may be lefs noxious ; which, 

 particularly if the failors drink brandy, is 

 fufflcient to make them mad. But we cannot 

 from hence derive the ceremony of drenching 

 them in water, as it is a practice more likely 

 to occafion difeafes than to prevent them. 



Afterwards all thofe who had been here 

 for the firft time collected a fum of money 

 among themfelves, to ferve as a treat at a Go- 

 thenburg!} tavern, in cafe they mould return; 

 and it amounted to three hundred and fixty- 

 four copper dollars, and fifteen ocres. An- 

 other collection was made for the orphan-houfe 

 at Gothenburgh ; every one contributed to it, 

 and it amounted to eight hundred and thirteen 

 copper dollars, and twenty-four ocres. 



1 The 



