348 CROSS THE LINE. 



ments were made by Captain Becroft for my 

 passage home in that vessel, and also for the 

 shipping of the ivory. 



On the 11th August I embarked on board 

 the Mars, with two invalids from H. M. S. Pe- 

 lorus, who were entrusted to my care by Mr. 

 Stewart, the surgeon. We immediately got 

 under weigh for England. 



On the l6th August we crossed the line, 

 and, according to the old custom, Neptune and 

 his wife Amphitrite came on board, and per- 

 formed the ceremonies usual on such occasions. 

 There were two or three men who had not been 

 visited by the old gentleman, and who had to 

 submit to his rude treatment. 



On the 20th August a boat was discerned 

 on the larboard quarter. Captain Irving, sup- 

 posing it might be some one in distress, put the 

 ship about and stood for it. In the course of an 

 hour we were nearly abreast the boat, which con- 

 tained two black men, who appeared anxious to 

 avoid the vessel, and pulled desperately away 

 from her. A suspicion immediately arose on 

 board that, being Kroomen, they had run away 

 with a ship's boat. A shot was fired over their 



