The Eighteenth Century 37 



ciers et sur le pont pour les Matelots; & après plusieurs singeries & masca- 

 rades, on les détache pour les conduire les uns après les autres au pied du 

 grand mât, où on leur fait preêter serment sur une Carte qu'ils feront aux 

 autres comme on leur a fait, suivant les Statuts de la Navigation, ensuite on 

 paye pour n'être pas mouillé, mais toujours inutilement, car les Capitaines ne 

 sont pas même tout à-fait-épargnez. 



( Amédée-François Frézier. Relation du voyage de la mer du sud aux côtes 

 du Chily et du Pérou, fait pendant les années 1712, 1713 & 1714. Paris, 

 1716, p. 13-14.) 



Of Scot descent, Frézier was bom in Chambéry in 1682, the family having settled in Savoy in 

 the late 17th century. His report went through several editions in French, was translated into 

 English, German, Dutch in the 18th centiury. In 1903 at Santiago de Chile a translation into 

 Spanish of the part relating to Chile was made by Nicolas Pena. 



The general tone and tenor of the book seems to show that Louis XTV sent Frézier to Chile and 

 Peru as an engineer to plan for defense against possible attacks by England and the Netherlands. 

 He sailed from St. Malo on the ship San Jose on November 23, 1711. 



1713 



Early in May we crossed the Line, . . . What takes place on board vi^hen a ship 

 crosses the Line is well known, so I shall not describe it at any length. A bell 

 summons everyone on deck when crossing, and tables are placed for judges 

 and attendants. All who have never before crossed the Line are ordered to 

 swear on certain nautical books and maps that they are ready to pay tribute 

 on crossing, and that they will on future occasions exact the same from any 

 others who should cross the Line for the first time, and other promises. Every- 

 one is then taxed according to his means, and, although they pay, they are 

 well drenched, pails of water being poured over them. If any refuse to pay 

 they are condemned to various pimishments, some being tied to the yard 

 widi long ropes and plunged several times into the sea. The games end with 

 cutting a thin rope stretched between the bow and the stern of the ship. The 

 tribute money is used either for masses or for a festivity on shore. On ships 

 sailing from the Mediterranean to Lisbon, the same ceremony is performed on 

 doubling Cape St. Vincent. 



I have often been asked whether it is true that many people die when 

 crossing the Line unless they are copiously bled, and that water and food 

 become putrid and full of worms. Before answering it must be remembered 

 that the Line is crossed twice on going from Europe to India, first from North 

 to South, and then from South to North, and also twice on returning from 

 India to Europe. On crossing the Line the first time on the way to India there 

 are generally several days of absolute cakn and great heat, on the second 

 time of crossing it is not nearly so hot. 



Although when crossing the Line the first time many people suflEer from 

 sickness, insomnia, and languour, caused by the intense heat, there are no 

 mortal illnesses, and there is no need to use the lancet. AH bad symptoms dis- 



