FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 107 
him and souse him well till he manages to pull the 
bandage off his eyes and struggles out gasping, with 
soft soap in his mouth, eyes, and ears. 
The old Peterhead whaler came before the judgment- 
seat like the rest. A few days ago, he ' was damned gin he 
wad stand ony nonsense frae a pack o' bletherin laddies.' 
But he kept precious quiet this day, and was lathered and 
ducked as thoroughly as the others. Then came Geordie, 
our second mate, a great, good-natured, fair-haired Her- 
cules, well liked by the crew. Great was the uproar when 
he stood blindfolded on the stage. And last of all came 
the ship's doctor, who had thought to escape by reason of 
the general belief that he has been round and round the 
the world — a belief arising from the depth of his tan and 
his magnificent black beard, and general appearance of 
having just crossed Africa. Some one who knew told the 
authorities that he was more at home in Piccadilly than in 
the tropics, and he waS straightway seized, soaped, shaved, 
and tubbed, amidst the greatest merriment. Coming 
towards the end of the function, he fared badly in regard 
to the tubbing, for the water in the bath after thirty 
bathers was anything but fresh. 
All hands being initiated into the rights and privileges 
of the subjects of King Neptune, the ceremony was over. 
No one saw the fun of stopping for this reason, so to keep 
things going poor Bonnar was seized on and sacrificed to 
make a sailor's holiday. Poor Bonnar was chosen because 
he was so fat and good-natured and Irish. He had been 
doing duty as policeman ; it did seem hard lines. He 
made a hopeless struggle, and then resigned himself, 
