4 AT SEA. 



gigantic wood razor, anointed with tar in guise of soap, after 

 which ceremony, by cutting a rope maintaining your chair, 

 standing over a barrel full of dirty water, you fall inside 

 taking an involuntary dirty bath. Then it is the turn of 

 another, until all the passengers and sailors have undergone 

 the same ceremonial. Durino- all that time there is a con- 

 tinual throwing of buckets of water, flour, eggs, etc., on one 

 another. At 5 o'clock it concludes, and all go to wash and 

 dress for a gala dinner, with champagne and other delicacies, 

 which is usually given on that day, which ends with a comedy 

 of some sort, acted by sailors and amateurs willing to help. 

 As a rule this day of carnival is rather enjoyed by all, as, by 

 giving a piece of four shillings to Father Line, you can escape 

 from the worst parts of the day's proceedings. For my part 

 I must confess that I did enjoy it thoroughly, these showers 

 of water being rather agreeable with the hot temperature as 

 we had on that day. On our ship all went well, and even the 

 ladies took an active part in the fun of the day ; but some- 

 times it happens that some of the passengers are not willing 

 to part with their four shilling piece or oppose themselves to 

 the baptism. In that case they are generally overpowered by 

 the sailors and come out the worse for it. 



On the 14th of March we felt the shock of a submarine 

 earthquake. On the 15th, we crossed the Equator with a 

 good breeze and splendid weather. Fish were plentiful, 

 and many were harpooned. On the 21st we met the English 

 ship Ellen, with whom we spoke. Flying fishes (Exocœtus 

 volitansj , were very abundant. It is one of the most extra- 

 ordinary sights of the tropical seas. The power of flight 

 possessed by these flshes is not very great ; but they can 

 fly to a distance of about one hundred yards, and frequently 

 fly so high that they fall on the deck of ships. This 

 happens often enough when persecuted by large flshes, such 

 as dolphins, albicores, and others. We also saw many sharks 

 (Galeocerdo arcticus) , some of a very large size. They were 

 usually surrounded by pilot flshes (Naucrates diictor). This 

 last flsh is about the size and shape of the mackerel, and is 

 marked with dark blue transverse bands passing round the 

 body. Its name of pilot fish is derived from the belief that 

 sailors have, that it acts as a pilot, directing sharks were to 

 obtain a good meal. Certain it is, that when sharks are about 

 the ship, there the pilot flshes are also, swimming round about 

 and underneath them with perfect impunity, a good under- 

 standing existing apparently between them. Another flsh, 



