superstition of Friday being an unlucky day. He
caused the keel of a very large ship to be laid on a Friday; he named
her the 'Friday'; he launched her on a Friday; he gave the command of
her to a captain whose name was Friday; and she commenced her first
voyage on a Friday, bound for China with a costly cargo; and in all
respects she was one of the noblest and best-appointed ships that ever
left the port. The result was, neither ship nor crew was ever heard of
afterwards. Thus his well-meant plan," adds Mr. Cooper, "so far from
showing the folly of superstition, only confirmed seamen in their
absurd belief."

Another instance may be given of a splendid ship sailing on a Friday
being lost, as was supposed by the superstitious, through the
imprudence of sending her to sea on the sixth day of the week. We
refer to the West India steamer "Amazon," whose sad fate is a matter
of history. Other examples might be given of ships beginning their
voyages on Friday being lost; and, to the present time, sailors will
tell you that more misfortunes happen to vessels leaving port on
Friday than to ships departing on any other day of the week. Sailors
consider Sunday a favourable day for commencing a voyage. They are
averse to proceed to sea if a lawyer or clergyman is on board. They
think the presence of one of these gentlemen raises a tempest that
puts their craft in peril. This superstition is probably founded on
the biblical story of Jonah in his flight to Tarshish, when such a
mighty tempest was raised as to endanger the lives of those who manned
the vessel that conveyed him from Joppa. Sailors are of opinion that
it is lucky to have women or children on board a ship. Time was when
they objected to sail with a native of Finland as one of the crew,
thinking that the Finns were leagued with Satan, and that if they were
offended, they took their revenge by raising adverse winds and causing
accidents to happen. Old sailors objected to have dogs on board, but
cats were held sacred; and if all tales be true, Puss often secured
favourable winds, and prevented shipwreck. When rats are seen
deserting a ship ready for sea, it is regarded as an evil omen. In
calm weather, sailors whistle to raise the wind; but in a gale they
neither whistle themselves, nor permit others to do so. It is unlucky
to wear the clothes of a fellow-sailor who dies at sea before the
termination of the voyage. It is thought unlucky to break up an old
boat--a fact wh