14 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
upon one of the boats ; it probably had been blown 
oft' the coast of Greenland, as it appeared much 
fatigued. 
No sooner had eight bells struck to 
the arrival of the festive day, than the 
mostgrotesque group of figures imaginable advanced 
slowly towards a garland, composed of hoops, de- 
corated with ribands, that was already suspended 
from the mizen stay, by the last married man in 
the ship. Here, as usual, three cheers were given. 
The sailor who personated Neptune, and whose 
authority all must obey, bearing the emblems of 
fishing in one hand, and a brazen trumpet in the 
other, was so extravagantly attired, as to excite 
the most irresistible laughter. He approached to- 
wards me, and inquired whence I came, which, with 
several other interrogatories, was answered to his 
apparent satisfaction ; but I believe his complacency 
arose from the remembrance of the “ cape bottle,” 
with which I had formerly regaled the crew. His 
marine majesty now issued orders to his constables, 
each holding a harpoon shaft, to arrest every person 
who was similarly situated with myself, on a first 
voyage, and to bring them before him. They were 
constrained to go and answer his interrogatories, 
some of which were of the most humorous and 
ridiculous kind. I will here describe his appear- 
ance : his face was covered with a most unsightly 
mask : a large full-bottomed wig was on his head, 
and a loose cloak with a border of old blanket, 
tufted with rope-yarn to represent ermine, was 
