26 



VOYAGE TO RIO. 



It was last night, on approaching the equator, 

 that Neptune hailed the North Star, from 

 under the bowsprit, and promised to pay his 

 children a visit next day, to give them " a 

 taste of the line." This communication was 

 repeated in a dripping despatch, thrown from 

 the chains by an unseen triton, over the side, 

 and directed to the captain. A barrel of 

 flaming pitch was next observed, floating down 

 to leeward, whilst a bugle announced a farewell 

 for the night from Neptune, whose fiery car 

 was supposed to be bearing him away to his 

 bed on the top of the waves. 



This morning, after breakfast, a motley pro- 

 cession began, consisting of Neptune and all 

 his family, cooks, apothecaries, &c. The god 

 himself was seated in a car with Mrs. Neptune, 

 whose red nose told a tale of grog ; then fol- 

 lowed innumerable tritons, and other odd and 



