146 Crossing the Line 



1841, continued 



watery couch while the ship moved swiftly on her course — her bows 

 throwing up on each side a cataract of snow-white foam. 



(Medical Topography of Brazil and Uruguay: witli incidental remarks. 

 By G. R. B. Horner, M.D., Surgeon U. S. Navy; Honorary Member of 

 the Philadelphia Medical Society, And Corresponding Member of the 

 National Institute at Washington. Philadelphia, 1845. p. 24-25. ) 



No date, but probably late November or early December, 1841. 



We had a shipmate once, whom we named "Jack Nastyface," from the fact 

 that his face was as rough as a MacAdemized road. The first time that we 

 crossed the equator in the Pacific, "Jack" was at the mast head looking out 

 for whales. As soon as "eight bells" were struck, and "Jack" was refieved, 

 he was informed that we had crossed the line. "Jack" never would be behind 

 any body in intelligence. "The devil we did!" says "Jack." "Can't ye tell us 

 some news? didn't I see it as well as you did, and better too? wasn't I aloft? 

 I saw the line before any man aboard." 



(Richard Tobias Greene, in tiie Sandusky Mirror, January 13, 1855, cited 

 in Clarence Gohdes, "Melville's Friend 'Toby,' Modem Language Notes, 

 vol. 59 [1944], p. 53.) 



Melville sailed from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, on the Acushnet January 3, 1841, and this 

 crossing of the equator came probably later in 1841 or before July 9, 1842, when he and "Toby" 

 Greene escaped from the ship at the Marquesas Islands. 



1844 



By February 14, we were slowly nearing the equator, a time that always 

 brings well earned sport to the crew. At about seven in the evening we 

 heard them cheering vigorously, "The fire of Neptune! The fire of Nep- 

 tune!" We made our way up on deck and about a hundred feet distant we 

 descried a column of fire. It was a cask of dried peas and tar which the 

 sailors had set on fire and throvvoi into the sea. Suddenly, a solemn voice 

 was heard from the topmast: 



"Captain, have you any passengers aboard?" 



"I have twelve," answered the captain merrily. 



"Do they intend to pass the line?" 



"Yes." 



"Well, tomorrow Neptune in person will administer baptism which is 

 indispensable to all who pass the line." 



At ten in the evening, the time for retiring, and also the exact time for 

 us to cross tlie equator, a huge light flamed out from the topmast. At ten 

 the next morning we heard the ciy "Neptune! Neptune!" The Reverend 

 Clergy accompanied the captain on the bridge where Neptune was present 

 with aU his court. Had you seen him you would have taken him for his 



