VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
15 
belted round his body ; by his side he had an 
immense rapier. He was accompanied by several 
attendants, and his consort rested upon his august 
arm ; she exhibited nothing remarkable besides a 
whitened face, and a large protuberance in front, 
to denote that little apprehensian need be enter- 
tained of a failure of succession to his throne, as 
it might reasonably be expected from her size, that 
she would bring forth a litter of little Neptunes. 
His barber was most appositely dressed, in a clean 
white shirt, neckcloth, and apron, with powdered 
hair; he held a monstrous razor made of an iron 
hoop, one edge having teeth to answer the purpose 
of a saw. Neptune inquired whether his imple- 
ment for shaving was sharp, which he examined, 
and approved: the watery god and his attendants 
then retired between decks into the galley, where 
he ordered his prisoners to be brought singly before 
him, to answer interrogatories, and to undergo the 
process of shaving. Here all requisites were pre- 
pared, lather mixed with soot and grease, and the 
brush commonly used in tarring the vessel. The 
ship’s steward was the first brought to this arbi- 
trary tribunal, having his eyes bound with a hand- 
kerchief, and his hands and feet put into the stocks 
which were ready for the occasion. He was not 
arraigned upon charges said to be imputed to him, 
that is, of not paying his “ cape bottle but I have 
since understood, that the offence was one which 
sailors consider most heinous, that of not only 
shortening their grog, but reducing its strength ; 
