258 PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL. 
May 23. In the course of this morning we crossed the 
line. All the sons of Neptune were now busy in their 
preparations for a visit from his 'Tritons ; who soon made 
their appearance with their hair dressed with hempen tails, 
their backs striped with tar, their heads covered with large 
caps, and gave notice to the Captain of the arrival of the 
God of the Sea, which was instantly announced by the 
sound of fifes and drums. 
[ Here follows a long detailed account of the ridiculous ceremonies 
performed on those who for the first time cross the Equator, 
which, new and amusing as they were to Dr. Smuth, do not 
deserve insertion here. | 
We continued to steer towards the west till the 26th, but 
the wind veering more and more to the eastward, it was 
resolved to try the other course along the coast. ‘The sea 
is here uncommonly abundant in fish. ‘The whole surface 
is often put in motion by the flying-fishes, when chased by 
others. Their number is immense. Shoals of them con- 
stantly surrounded the vessel, and at night they give out a 
white light, resembling that of the moon, when reflected by 
the sea. It was also chiefly at night that we were enabled 
to catch, with the net, the greatest number of mollusca and 
crustacea. Many different substances contribute to make 
the surface of the sea light. Some parts of the bodies of 
most of the crustacea have certain glittering points, and 
two or three species of crabs were perceived to give out the 
most brilliant light. The points, which are to be seen on 
the mollusca are larger, but less bright. But that luminous 
