The Nineteenth Centxiry 119 



forget the difficulties they have to go through, produce also the most bene- 

 ficial influence upon their health: a cheerful man being much more capable 

 of resisting a fit of sickness than a melancholy one. It is the duty of com- 

 manders to use every iunocent means of maintaining this temper in their 

 crews; for, in long voyages, when they are several months together wander- 

 ing on an element not destined by nature for the residence of man, without 

 enjoying even occasionally the recreations of the land, the mind naturally 

 tends to melancholy, which of itself lays the foundation of many diseases, 

 and sometimes even of insanity. Diversion is often the best medicine, and 

 used as a preservative, seldom fails of its effect. 



( Otto von Kotzebue. A new voyage round the world, in the years 1823, 

 24, 25. London, 1830. p. 25-26.) 



Was the "comedy of their own composition" put on by the sailors a formal bit of drama or 

 merely a continuation of the performances done by Neptune and his followers? Note that in this 

 celebration by sailors from Muscovy, the frozen north, we find none of the chattering and shiver- 

 ing staged by men from more southern regions. Kotzebue tells of no trouble in knowing just 

 what to stage or how to put it over. 



An earlier crossing is noted under 1815. This 1823 report is quoted in full by Robert 

 Fitz-Roi in his Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle, 

 noted later under 1832. 



At the crossing from the Northern into the Southern hemisphere [on Janu- 

 ary 8, 1823, presumably new style], the seamen were amusing themselves 

 by bathing in a tub representing Neptune's chariot which was placed on a 

 gun-carriage and pulled by his courtiers. 



In order to make this sailor hohday more entertaining, I had previously 

 ordered to prepare for it. They were given paint, flags and everything that 

 would help to make the masquerade more magnificient. At the end, every- 

 one got some light punch, and while they were imbibing it, some of them 

 remembered the Muses. Dancing and various games kept them entertained 

 during the entire pleasant evening. 



(Plavaniye vokrug sveta na shlyupke Ladoga v 1822, 1823 i 1824 godakh 

 . . . Sanlct-Peterburg, 1832. p. 12-14.) Voyage around the world . . . 

 on the sloop Ladoga. Captain Andrei Lazarev. 



The translation was made by Dr. Avrahm Yarmohnsky. 



1826 



[20 July 1826] Nous avons passé la ligne entre trois et quatre heures du 

 matin. L'équipage a célébré joyeusement la fête du baptême, et, malgré 

 quelques hbations assez copieuses de la part de certains individus, ü n'y a 

 eu ni querelle ni tumulte. 



(Jules Sébastien César Dumont D'UrviUe. Voyage de la Corvette 

 L'Astrolabe. Paris, 1830-35. v. 1, p. 65-66.) 



The text has a vignette illustration. Let's hope the happy celebration of the fête du baptême 

 was in ratio inverse to the space given to teUing about it. 



