32 Crossing the Line 



1690, continued 



We crost the Line the 23d of November, and were obhg'd to undergoe the 

 impertinent Ceremony of Baptism, at least 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 difBculty; 'tis also 

 sometimes done when we pass the Tropicks. 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 Rags, 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 call'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 fuU 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 theii- faces with Seawater, 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 with- 

 out doing any further Pennance. Those that gave were presently discharg'd, 

 and some avoided this unpleasant Praeludium 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 washing lasted 

 much longer than Üiose who were so treated desir'd. 



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

 the same Law. The Captain was oblig'd to give something to save the Beak- 

 head of his Ship, the Seamen aUedging, 'twas their Right to cut off the Boats 

 Nose else. The Money the Men got by it, was laid up to be spent on the whole 

 Crew when opportunity offer'd. Every Nation practices this ridiculous Cus- 

 tom after a different Manner. 



(The voyage of François Léguât of Bresse to Rodriguez, Mauritius, Java, 

 and the Cape of Good Hope. Transcribed from the first English edition. 

 Edited and Annotated by Captain Pasfield Oliver. London: Hakluyt 

 Society, 1891. v. 1, p. 19-21. Works issued by the Hakluyt Society, v. 82). 



The manuscript of the Relation was printed and pubhshed in London [in 1708] in French and 

 English simultaneously, whilst a French edition was pubhshed in Amsterdam, and a Dutch version 

 was printed at Utrecht in the same year. These were followed by German translations printed 



