CROSSING THE LINE.
{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian.", "edition": "01", "page": "p4", "byline": ""}
{"character_count": 2183, "word_count": 404, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9733999967575073], "ccnet_perplexity": [2190.10009765625], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
The following account of ceremony
performed by sailors, on crossing the line,
is extracted from letter published in al
late English paper. 1t appears to have
happened on board ship strongly man
ned:--


"We got into the southeast trade wind
on Sunday, in degree 20 minutes, and
as we expected to cross the line on Mon
day, Neptune came alongside on Sunday
night, at o'clock, to make inquiry about
coming on board, that those who had not
crossed the line before, might be introduc
ed. The following may give you some
idea of the ceremony. A tar barrel is illl-
ed with wood, Goals, &c.and, being lighted
ut the forecastle, is set aAoat to leward,
which on passing the gang way is hailed by
the chief mate, and Neptune replies. The
barrel was seen burning all the way to the
horizon, distance of about six miles.


The blazing barrel on the water had a
very picturesque effect. Next day Nep-
tune came on board, with about forty at
tendants, all dressed in the most fantas-
tic manner. They caire from behind a
screen, at the forecastle; Mr., Mrs. and
Master Neptune, being in a car drawn by
10 or IL sea horses, driven by coach
man, position behind. with barber, doc
tor, their assistants, &c. The car was
covered with two flags. The doctor wa
equipped in high style; cooked; hat an.
tong queue made of COW tail, an old blacl
coat, powdered with -four round the shoul
ters, black gloves, wooden baton as /
cane, with rope yarn for riband, and ;
shaving-box filled with pills made of tai
low and -four; the trowsers and hats wer'
made of painted sail cloth.


The barber was conspicuous figure
being the tallest man in the ship; he ha
s razors, the largest being about l6 or
inches long, having teeth like saw, @
an inch deep, made of an old hoop. wen
voluntarily and submitted to Neptune
Ne put little thin tar on my chin, whic
LIE did not scrape off with the razor, as


commonly said, pincbed my nose littl


in eying me smell of his scent-bottl
then throw pail of water on me. and di
missed me. The rough side of the raz,
was for those seamen who were obstrep
rous, or who were inattentive to their d


ty on the voyage. This ceremony lastt
from half past 9, till half past eleven"