106 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



We passed the "line" on Friday, the twenty-fifth of 

 July, at half-past ten in the evening (22 J 5i' W. L. Green- 

 wich). The day had been agreeably cool; after sun-set, 

 about six o'clock, the air became quite rough and a rain 

 set in. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, the 

 sailors were determined to have the customary Neptune- 

 farce. About nine o 'clock there appeared one of them, a 

 funny old fellow by the name of Rainer Splitgen, who 

 was lame of one leg. He wore a mask which converted 

 his face into a veritable caricature; a coarse woollen 

 blanket enveloped his body, while beard and hair of un- 

 conscionable length had been manufactured for the pur- 

 pose out of oakum. A gaily-colored crown of sail-cloth 

 rather disfigured than ornamented the head of the actor, 

 who went along the stern upon the water-stay. He then 

 addressed the ship in the proper manner through a speak- 

 ing-tube with the customary "Bark ahoy!" The Cap- 

 tain himself answered in the usual manner, after which 

 the supposed Neptune inquired as to the name of the ves- 

 sel, the port of embarkment and of destination, all of 

 which were duly answered by the Captain. He then de- 

 clared that he would come on board to investigate, 

 whether everything was in proper order, which he did. 

 He appeared, however, to be of a very ungracious dispo- 

 sition, finding fault with everything and everybody, scold- 

 ing here and there, whereby the man at the wheel re- 

 ceived particularly a full share of Neptune's ill-will. He, 

 of course, gave orders, in a voice which corresponded very 

 well to his exterior appearance. In order to pacify him 

 the Captain invited him at last to take a drink of whisky 

 with him in the cabin, an invitation which he could not 

 decline in such cold and wet weather. Soon after he re- 

 turned with a full bottle of the same beverage, which had 

 been given to him for his "family." With triumphant 

 air he returned whence he had come and disappeared over 

 the bow after assuring us that he would honor us once 

 more with his visit if we would enter his realms by the 

 following night. 



The subsequent Saturday favored the farce of the 



