FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
103 
of the form that we associate with perfect womanly 
beauty ; the largeness and strength that is too often 
absent was there, but the colour was much too strong, 
and even vied with the blush on her Majesty's nose. 
' Dee-dong,' or Mr. William Watson of The Hayne, 
took this very important part, and acted it with wonderful 
grace and modesty, considering her Majesty's figure, and 
the shortness of her skirts, which barely covered her 
brawny knees. 
After Neptune came his clerk (Fraser from the Shet- 
lands) : costume — bowler, blue snow-goggles, black 
morning-coat curtailed into an Eton jacket, broad white 
collar, white flannel knickerbockers, black stockings, and 
buckled shoes. Under his arm he carried a black portfolio, 
and in his hand a gigantic quill pen. Such a rig would 
have brought down the gallery of any house in the United 
Kingdom. Then there came the barber (Petrie the bo' sun). 
He also was most effectively rigged : he wore a broad- 
brimmed straw hat, flowing crimped tow wig, white shirt 
and trousers, and a barber's apron ; in his hand he carried 
the razor; his arms and feet were bare, and brown as a 
Kaffir's. Harry Kiddy was doctor and barber's assistant. 
He carried the pill-box, a bucket full of soft soap and 
water, and a white-wash brush for the lather. After these 
came the bobbies and the bears, all splendidly got up, 
and several other characters whose names I do not 
remember. 
When they were all arranged in the focsle in the 
order of their going, they started in procession round the 
deck, headed by the cook, who endeavoured to play a 
