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 foUoivs a long detailed account of the ridicidous ceremonies 

 performed on those who for the first time cross the Equator, 

 which, new and amusing as they were to Dr. Smith, 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 w hole surface 

 is often put in motion by the fl3'ing-fishe8, 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 diiferent 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 



