The Nineteenth Century 83 



The German translation of Krusenstem in the Library of the American Philosophical Society, 

 Philadelphia, came to the Society in July, 1823. Note the letters about it in "The American Philo- 

 sophical Society and Early Russian-American Relations" by Eufrosina Dvoichenko-Markov, in 

 the Proceedings of the Society, v. 94, no. 6, December 22, 1950. Krusenstem was elected to the 

 Society in April, 1824. 



1808 



As we were now approachmg the equinoctial Une, being in 12° north latitude, 

 the wind became lighter, and I heard a faint buzzing among the old salts 

 about the visit of old Neptune to his children, which I then beHeved was no 

 farce, imtil ocular demonstration convinced me otherwise, as will hereafter 

 be shovsm. 



January 3. . . . We braced up our yards on the larboard tack; and as we 

 expected to cross the line tlie next night, preparations were being made for 

 the reception of old Neptime such as dressing two of the oldest sailors to 

 personate him and his wife; throwing over a tar barrel on fire; and hailing 

 the sea-god from on board. 



AH this buflEoonery was performed after dark, and so managed as to be 

 kept a secret from the green hands. 



And here I must not omit stating, that this foolery was sanctioned by the 

 captain and officers, very much to their mortification afterwards, as the scene 

 of confusion which ensued had like to have closed with a mutiny. On the 

 next morning, the 8th, the play began; the green hands were confined in the 

 forecastle, one at a time being sent up bhndfolded, who was then received by 

 his majesty of the sea, and the operation of shaving commenced. 



The lather consisted of slush mixed with the dirty water of the grindstone 

 tub; the razor was a piece of old iron hoop: the face being well besmeared 

 with this lather, the work of shaving commenced, during which his majesty 

 puts some interrogatories, such as, "Do you intend to become a member of 

 my family, and a faithful subject of my realm?" &c. When the mouth is 

 opened to give the answer, it is crammed full of odoriferous latlier. This done, 

 he is well scraped with the hoop, and ducked with salt water, and then let 

 oflE to enjoy the remainder of the farce. I recollect, when they were about 

 to cram the dehcious lather into my mouth, I struck the man who held it, and 

 in the bustle the bandage fell from my eyes, and I discovered the whole 

 trick. A scene of confusion here took place; the green hands all sided to- 

 gether, and determined not to submit to the operation, and the old sailors 

 attempting to force us to yield, a riot took place, which was not, without 

 much difficulty, quelled by die officers. Order being at length restored, and 

 the crew having returned to their duty, all was soon forgotten. 



( George Little. Life on the ocean; or, twenty years at sea. Boston, 1846. 

 12. ed. p. 42-3.) 



The earhest stoiy by an American, so far. 



