, and make a
stern board from an ugly one. After being taken to the sea-god's wife, who
embraced him most cordially, leaving no small proportion of the ochre on
his cheeks, he was desired to be seated, and was led to the narrow plank
placed over a very large tub of water. The barber then began his
operations with grease and tar, and as the mid did not admire the
roughness of the razor, he began to be a little restive, when over he went
into the tub, where he floundered for some short time. He was drawn out,
the bandage removed from his eyes, and he appeared not a little surprised
to see so many grotesque figures around him. He soon recovered himself and
entered into the fun which followed.

All the others came up one at a time and went through the same ceremony.
Some were inclined not to submit to Neptune's directions. This only made
matters worse for them, as the more they struggled the oftener they were
plunged into the tub of water. After about two hours' amusement the decks
were dried, everything in order, and all hands at breakfast. I could not
help laughing at one of the lieutenants of Marines who, to avoid getting
wet, had placed himself on the forecastle to enjoy the pastime without
partaking in it. One of the mids who had been ducked determined he should
not escape, and had a couple of buckets filled with water on the gangway,
ready to throw on him when he quitted his post, which he did when he saw
the tub removed from the quarter-deck. As the youngster wished, he went
along the main-deck, when, as he passed, over his shoulders went the first
bucket of water; he unfortunately lifted his head to see who threw it,
when over went the other right in his face and breast, so that he was as
completely drenched as if he had been ducked. Unluckily, he had on his red
coat, which was completely spoiled; salt water is a bitter enemy to red
cloth, as it turns it black. A few days afterwards we caught several
dolphins and a shark seventeen feet in length. We were obliged to fire
seven pistol balls into its head to kill it before we could get it on
board. It was cut up and put into pickle for those who chose to eat it.
There was a beautiful fish, striped alternately black and yellow, swimming
under it. The sailors called it a pilot-fish, and they informed me that
sharks are very seldom without one or two, and that they appear to direct
them where to go; this last must be mere conjecture. The pilot-fish is
generally about a foo