Saturnalia on Crossin(/ '' The Line.'' 117 



that would hold water. The officers and other gentlemen 

 escaped the ordeal by a contribution in money or wine towards 

 the festivities. 



When the greater part of the sailors had undergone this 

 process, and the scene, amidst formidable gushes of water, 

 rioting, uproar, and excitement, had reached its highest point, 

 behold ! a voice thundered from the quarter-deck the words 

 ** two o'clock," and everything resumed its wonted aspect. 



Though the Line had been crossed at a more westerly point 

 than usual, we were able, in the night from the 18th to the 19th 

 of July, to pass easterly between the rocks Las Roccas and the 

 island of Fernando da Noronha.* On the 20th July we were 

 carried again by unfavourable winds to a distance of 100 miles 

 from the Brazilian coast, where we parted from our faithful 

 companion, the Caroline. She sailed for Pernambuco, whilst 

 we kept out to sea in order to continue the observations on the 

 westerly currents, and be able freely to double Cape St. Augus- 

 tin. Bad weather, showers, and heavy swells prevented com- 

 plete success in our task ; it was, however, ascertained that the 

 current close to the land is not so strong as at some distance 

 from it, and that the extreme point of divergence is, at this 

 particular season of the year, somewhat east of the south 

 point of Fernando de Noronha. In the angle formed by the 



* Tliis island, situated 300 miles from Pernambuco, wliicli supplies it with pro- 

 visions, is at present used by the Brazilian Government as a penal settlement. It 

 is extremely beautiful and fertile, but very Uttle cultivated, and admirably suited for 

 a coal depot, and a place for ships obtaining stores, particularly when epidemics 

 are prevalent in Rio de Janeiro. 



