The Nineteenth Century 113 



envied him, he gaily returned to the aerial court, carrying to his master the 

 answer of the captain. 



An abundant shower from the buckets that were in the tops punished the 

 sailors on deck for their curiosity, while a deluge of hail, represented by 

 Turkey com, was reserved for us. Our fowls and ducks, which were put that 

 day on short allowance, were the only creatures on board that had reason 

 to dislike the festival. 



The great day at length arrived. Very early in the morning the rusty 

 trumpets were scoured, and wiih their piercing din alarmed the inmates of 

 the deep. The whips cracked; hammers struck the anvil in quick succession, 

 and finished the crovvTi destined for tlie king, and the chains for his enemies. 

 The skins of two sheep, killed the preceding day, served for the robes of 

 his majesty; and his royal consort, tie ughest man among the whole crew, 

 concealed her charms by petticoats made of five or six handkerchiefs of 

 different colours. Two melons of unequal size, to which the amorous eyes 

 of the monarch were vdstfully directed, embellished her delicate bosom. 

 The three-cornered hat of our indulgent chaplain covered the head of the 

 notary; though I caimot tell why there should be notaries every where. Two 

 asses supported the king — their parts had been warmly disputed, and they 

 were not conferred tiU the candidates for them had given proofs of their 

 capacity. Lucifer, with his crooked beak and long claws, chained and beaten 

 with a broomstick, three feet long and two inches in diameter, strove to 

 escape; but being prevented by the water, with which he was inundated 

 by the priest, selected from among the least sober of the sailors, he gnawed 

 his chains, and terrified with his roaring the daughter of the king, who threw 

 herself on her mother's breast, and bit it vvdth voracity. Eight armed soldiers 

 closed the procession. 



'Are you cold?' said we to the man who personated the King of the Line, 

 on observing him shiver. 'No, my lads,' repHed he, T am almost smothered 

 in my skins; but it is customary for me to tremble.' His wife, his daughter, 

 nay even Lucifer himself, trembled, and we laughed among ourselves at 

 their grotesque costume, and at this practice, which seemed still more 

 grotesque. 



All had by this time taken their places; the notary opened the fatal list, 

 in which were inscribed the names of the profane who had not yet passed 

 the hne. An enormous tub, half full of water, to which was adapted a swing 

 for sitting in, gave us notice that the ablutions would be frequent and 

 serious. 



In vain did the king of the une enjoin silence, which a whistle from the 

 boatswain instantly obtained. The name of Captain Freycinet was pro- 

 claimed. He was asked if his ship had already had the honour to pass the 

 hne; and on his answer in the negative, four soldiers went up to the vmidlass, 

 and with hatchets struck the mast near which it was placed. A few pieces of 

 money, dropped by the captain, appeased the vvTrath of the monarch, and 



