Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-03
CROSSING TIE LINE

The Old but unreasonable ceremonies formerly used GU
crossing the equator have been very often described. but
rarely with so much livcliness and humour as in the follow
ing extract from a journal kept during a voyage 10 the
South Seas and Canton, i'll 1896, and Ia tcly published in the
New York Daily Advertiser.
"On the 9th Dec. we crossed the Line; and a,
ABOUT 4 O'Clock commenced the frolic with raw hands.
we were haired from under the bows of the shin. and
demanded OF whether the vessels name was -, as
Neptune had been cruising tor us sen cpal days."-
w hen we answered in the affirmative, he SAID he wOuLI
come Oh board, and Immediately made his appearance
over the bows accompanied by Mrs. Neptune 1hs wife
and his barber, having ordered sshis boysn of. in his
stone canoe with paddles of wIalebone." Neptune
himself had on a red flannel cap, and an old tarred Dair
OF trousers, which came a little below his knees. His
feet and legs, for about the height of a pair of half boots
were covered with a coat of slUsh and Tar, which ne
SAID Kept the water out, and prevented the fish from
picking at his feet when he occasionally took his morn
ing walks. An old Pea-jacket in not very good repair
was thrown over his shoulders like a Spanish Toouelaurc:
and he wore a red flannel shirt, a cravat of red bunting
large enough TO cover tbe lower part of his face, so that
he could scarcely get his trumpet TO his mouth, and left
his lace SO much concealed, that it put it out of my power
toueScllbe any OF the features excepting the eyes, in
winch there was nothing extraordinary. His voice ap-
peared verycourse and affected; and he was very spIight-
age.n
His wife was rather famcifully dressed, although very
niue OF The female IN Il, she had a mans hat on her head,
tieu under hr chm with a rope yarn, and a great coat
tied round her waist; an American Jack round her
mead and shoulders answered for a veil and shawl: she
was also haTefoOted, with a bottle of rum in one hand
and a broomstICk in the other. Her features generally
were very masculine. her voice / could not Judge of as
she had so bard a cold that she could but whisper. The
barber who accompanied them was indiiTerently dressed,
and had very little about him that spoke his occupation
AT urst view; for his razor was a piece of an old iron
hoop, well rusted, his lather made of slush and tar, his
brush an Ole pitch mob, and his hone a coarse file. which
served 10 knotch rather than smooth the edge of hs ra-
zor' tie acted in several other capacities besides that
OF barber; for he was ordered to cali over from his list,
that part of the crew who had never before visited his
masters dominions. This was more formal than necessa-
~ lOr' unaccountable as il may appear, Neptune him
sen oy some strange magic knew every one Of them as
soon as ne could get his eyes upon them. 1t vas natu-
d enough mat he should know which had aud which had
not listed hlm before: but that he should know the lat
Ter oy name may appear strange; bur so il was.
Aiter shaking hands with the Captain, and so on with
all OF us Old acquaintance, he said it was his duty. as
master OF the Ocean, 70 proceed in initiating into his
idullIy thoSe new visitors. Being nine i'm number, they
were oruered below; that preparations might be made.
= ~ Iathering pot was filled up and the razor put in or
der, that they might be we'll shaved before they should
be initiated. One was then called up blindfolded; in this
tncre seemed TO be some freemasoury; he was seated
over a uogShead OF water IN such a manner that BY mere
~ STRIKING away a small supporter he could be made TO
AN ~, and thus might he washed without inconvenience.
J. We iather was put on, and he was asked if he wished
MS upper lip shaved: but while answering in the afir-
NATIVE the barber Tery carelessly filed his mouth with
iather. This vexed him, which was not surprising; he
oegan 10 swear; but the barber, whether from careless
neSs OF q good disposition, TO prevent his swearing, kept
Us orush gong so snsrtly, that the only security the
ieiow had was TO keep his mouth shut.
"Being well iathered, the shaving began. That was
reaHy a tough operation, and / believe that if he had
not been afraid oopen his mouth ne would haze begged
nSro 20 De excused from 1t. After getting his beard off,
winch To some places took the skin with il. they told
n'm 10 thank The barber through his speaking trumpet