Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/97

Nov.] the ocean, and the comparatively inferior denity of the water, together with the evaporation that takes place from it, which prevent an equal degree of heat being communicated to the atmophere with what it acquires from the land, we had for everal days had a light breeze which contributed not a little to cool the air.

The ailors have a cutom of ducking perons who cros the Line for the firt time, with the ea-water. This operation is performed by pouring everal pails of water over their heads; and is frequently conducted in uch a manner, as to afford a great deal of merriment to thoe who know themelves exempted from being the ubjects of it. One of the ailors, who calls himelf the Good Man of the Line, lets himelf down from the main-top, with a large beard of tow fatened to his chin, and preides at this nautical diverion.

Our Commander, apprehenive that this ort of cold bathing might not agree very well with ome of us, forbade its being performed upon any of the paengers.

On the 29th of November, Beaumé's aërometer for alts gave me 3° 4-5ths. We were then half a degree outh of the Line.

The currents carried us omewhat eatward of our former coure. The principal caue of the