20 AN ANCIENT CUSTOM. [169O. 



all those who had not assisted at the same Festival before, 

 or would not buy themselves off for a piece of Money. 



'Tis an ancient Custom, and will not be abolish'd without 

 difficulty ; 'tis also sometimes done when we pass the Tro- 

 picks. I shall in a few words report how this fine Ceremony 

 was perform'd in our Vessel. One of the Seamen who had 

 past the Line before, drest himself in Eags, with a beard and 

 Hair of Hards of Hemp, and black'd his face with Soot and 

 Oil mix'd together. Thus Equip'd, holding a Sea-Chart in 

 one Hand, and a Cutlass in the other, with a Pot full of 

 blacking Stuff standing by him, he presented himself upon 

 Deck attended by his Suffragans, drest as whimsically as 

 himself, and arm'd with Grid-Irons, Stoves, Kettles, and little 

 Bells; with which rare Instruments they made a sort of 

 Musick, the goodness of which may be easily imagin'd. 



They cali'd those that were to be initiated into these Rites 

 and Mysteries one after another, and having made them sit 

 down on the edge of a Tub full of Water, they oblig'd them 

 to put one Hand on the Chart, and promise that on the like 

 Occasion they wou'd do to others what was at that time done 

 to them. Then they gave them a mark in the Forehead 

 with the stuff out of the Pot, wetted their faces with Sea- 

 water, and askt them if they wou'd give the Crew any thing 

 to drink, promising them they wou'd in such case let them go 

 without doing any further Pennance. Those that gave were 

 presently discharg'd, and some avoided this unpleasant PriB- 

 hidium to what was to follow, by giving 'em something 

 Extraordinary : It cost me but a Crown to have the same 

 Privilege with the Latter. As for those who paid nothing 

 they were thrown into the Tub of Water over Head and 

 Ears, and then wash'd and scrub'd every where with the 

 Ships Ballast ; and I believe this scrubbing and wash- 

 ing lasted much longer than those who were so treated 

 desir'd. 



Our Frigat and Boat having never past the Line, they were 



