The Nineteenth Century 147 



brother, Pluto. He was clothed in rags; a wig covered his head, and he had 

 a coarse flax beard. He carried a huge wooden compass and a sextant with 

 which he mimicked the captain taking longitude. At his right, stood his 

 wife, as ludicrously attired as himself. His guards surrounded him, each 

 one armed with a wooden sword, a trident and a spear. Their faces were 

 smeared with tar and they presented a hideous aspect. 



The monarch of the sea promised the captain a prosperous voyage. He 

 then turned to Father DeSmet and begged to be allowed to shave him. 

 It was useless to refuse, so the good missionary reluctantly consented after 

 being assured by the captain that all would be conducted with propriety. 

 The other priests, too, submitted to the operation. To crown the farce, 

 Neptune demanded that baptism be administered, and immediately they 

 were soaked with a deluge of water from on high, and they were glad to 

 escape to the rear of the deck where they might view the performance 

 without further inconvenience. 



A good supper was then served, which the sailors enjoyed as much as 

 they had enjoyed the fun. After supper Father DeSmet thanked them for 

 the entertainment they had afforded. 



(Clarence B. Bagley. Early Catholic Missions in Old Oregon. Seattle, 

 Lowman & Hanford Company, 1932. v. 2, p. 66-67. ) 



Lowman & Hanford write ( January 26, 1955 ) : "Our firm published Early Catholic Missions 

 in Oregon many years ago and Mr. Bagley is long dead. We hold no copyright and cannot say 

 what the position of the Bagley heirs may be. However, while we cannot assume responsibihty 

 in the matter, we are inclined to think there would not likely be objection to such quotation as 

 you mention." 



Neptune's visit is too stale a thing to need relation; its chief fun seemed to 

 me, who had paid tribute to his dominions years before, to consist in the 

 very vigorous resistance some people, overburthened with sense, made 

 to his myrmidons. This, of coturse, induced them to let such visitors off 

 much more easuy. He haus the evening before his intended visit, when all 

 hands rush forward, and get desperately soused from the tops, by buckets 

 fuU of water. On the grand day of his visit, everybody is allowed to duck 

 everybody. A poor marine, staunch to the last, was walking his post, cross- 

 belted, and neat enough for parade, when he was caught and washed tiU 

 his coat bid fair to rival his trowsers in whiteness. The weather is always 

 warm, and really greater misfortunes may befall one than a good washing. 

 To some the novelty of the operation alone must make it agreeable. Of 

 course aU the old midshipman jokes were practised, — blowing the grampus, 

 lowering down, &c. Some are such inveterate sleepers as to afford a constant 

 prey, and as ul humour is seldom shewn on these occasions, it really makes 

 every one very much more alert; for, as every man takes advantage of his 

 fellow, so each fears falling asleep on his watch, as his rest is sure to termin- 

 ate in a cold bath. Geese, from the pens, were sometimes hung round the 



