CROSSING THE LIXE. 339 



The observations in some of the months are rather few to 

 obtain a correct mean ; but the first column, showing the 

 extreme limits for each, will be most useful to refer to, as 

 it marks the situation where the trades may reasonably be 

 expected to fail or commence. 



The curious ceremony observed by seamen crossing the 

 line is thus described by Bishop Heber in his journal : — 



" July 25. — To-day the first or introducton,- part of the 

 ceremony usual on passing the line took place. Soon after 

 dark, Xeptune's boat was supposed to approach the ship, 

 of which notice was given in the regular form to the officer 

 on watch. A sailor from the fore-chains, m a dismal voice» 

 aggravated by a speaking trumpet, hailed the captain, as if 

 fr^m the sea ; and after a short conversation, carried on with 

 becoming gra\-ity, Neptune was supposed to take his leave^ 

 and a barrel with a lighted candle in it was sent off from 

 the fore-chains to represent his boat dropping astern. 



" July 26. — To-day we passed the line, and the greater 

 part of it was spent in the mummeries usual on such occa- 

 sions, which went off very well and in good-humour. The 

 passengers were not liable to the usual interrogatories and 

 shaving ; but the male part of them took their share in the 

 splashing and wetting, which made up the main fun of these 

 naval saturnalia. I was a good deal surprised at the con- 

 trivance exhibited by the masqueraders in dressing out 

 (with the help of a little oakum and paint, a few fish-skins 

 and decayed finery) the various characters of Neptune, Am- 

 phitrite, Mercun,-, Triton, &c., with far more attention to 

 classical costume than I expected. With the distance and 

 usual aids of a theatre, the show would not have been con- 

 temptible ; while there was, as might be supposed, a suffi- 

 cient mixture of the ludicrous to suit the purposes of fun 

 and caricature." 



After crossing the line the south-east trade is entered. 

 The ship is kept clean full, and runs rapidly down the coast 

 of South America. The island of Trinidad lies in long. 29° 

 10' west, and lat. 20° 22' south, and is often* seen by ships 

 passing to the southward through the south-east trade. It 

 is a hTgh, rocky, barren island, with stupendous detached 

 rocks round it. ' It may be passed quite close on either side. 



* Captain Owen—Trinidad, souih pt. long. SQO 21' W., lat. 2(P 31' S. 



