THE OCEAN VOYAGE 107 



mariners more than the day before, as the weather was 

 more suitable for their purpose of merry- making. We 

 were making good time and enjoyed a cool breeze; flying 

 fish, bonitos and tumblers were visible everywhere, en- 

 joying the pleasant bright day like ourselves. 



The continued tolling of the ship's bell announced the 

 re-appearance of Neptune about one o'clock in the after- 

 noon. This time, however, he arrived with his whole 

 court, consisting of his wife, who carried an immense rag- 

 doll in her arms, two body-guards wearing red coats and 

 otherwise provided with long wooden swords; three or 

 four personalities in strange fantastic make-up completed 

 the procession. All of them wore ridiculous masks. Im- 

 mediately after arrival Neptune and his pilot commenced 

 the measurements of the vessel, having been provided 

 with an immense octant, built for the purpose by the 

 skilful carpenter, and they then made quite a correct 

 sketch upon a map, which our ingenious sail-maker had 

 provided for them. This map was made of sail-cloth and 

 was, as regards neatness and dimensions, by no means 

 inferior to the carpenter's creation. The equator had 

 been marked by a heavy stroke of the tar-brush. After 

 this part of the program had been accomplished, Nep- 

 tune's secretary delivered a solemn address to the Cap- 

 tain, at the end of which he requested those of the crew 

 to approach, who now passed the equator for the first 

 time. Thus called, two sailor boys appeared who were 

 taken to the front and, after being thoroughly lathered, 

 they received a good shaving with a wooden razor, about 

 two feet in length. After the scraping, which had been 

 done with great ceremony, both boys were given a shower- 

 bath by pouring a bucket of water over the head of each. 

 The onlooking passengers could only escape the fate of 

 the boys by contributing to the drink-funds. The remain- 

 der of the day was a holiday by permission and all work, 

 which could possibly be delayed, was suspended. The 

 crew, as well as the passengers, enjoyed themselves dur- 

 ing the afternoon by all kinds of gymnastic exercises, 

 followed later on by the bowl. The latter example, set by 



