Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/31

Rh tween the forecastle and the cabin, the deck and the masthead; to do every dirty job, and be sworn at, and called fool and blockhead, by captain, mates, and men; and through it all to be civil and cheerful, and jump and run with a ready “ay! ay! sir !" at every call.

forty-second day at sea found us crossing the line. To most of our company this was a new era, as few had seen land or water south of the equator. We were not subjected, however, to the ceremonies formerly attendant on a first passage of the equatorial line at sea; we thus escaped the lathering with grease, and shaving with an iron hoop, the sousing in brine, and other penalties which, in old times, were inflicted upon “green horns,” to the amusement and delight of the "old salts," who were wont to enjoy a short season of license on such occasions.

This practice is passing into disuse, nor would it have been relished by our captain, who was himself making his first India voyage.