Dec. 26 ~ Saturday

Another bright morning. Xwsas is over and now we are
nearing the Equator. One fellow proposed that we take

a photograph of ite. The Quartermaster is now going

with a list of names in his hand. I think those who
have never passed the Equator. It is the custom to
baptise all who pass that great belt in honor of Neptune,
so I guess I om in for a wetting. About 11 o'elock we
passed the Equator and the 15* mate had the tank (a tank
made of the ship's canvas sails) ready and at 2 o'elock
the time appointed for the service, the Bell was rung
and @ shot from the eannon was fired and out came the
sailors with an accordian, steel triangle & the drum

and they were all painted in the most hideous ways all
bear~footed and feet & legs painted nearly to the knees.
After playing a tune one fellow with blue spectakles took
a triangular piece of wood with something like a boot

on the dash board of a buggy to hold. the whip and through
this he looked and made as though he was getting the
Equator and when he had looked long enough, he pronounced
good then there was one who read 5 or 6 verses of poetry
in German and then the performance began. Some one's
name would be called out and he would go to the place

" prepared climb up on a little stepladder sit on the

edge of the tank with his back toward the water then 2
men one with comb & seissors (wooden) another with razor
brush & lather = razor, wood - brush, big paint brush -
lather, very dirty and such a daubing mess as they would
make of him when all at once they would grab him by the
leg and dump him backwards into the tank of water - of
course its being of canvas it would not hurt, and then
the 18t mate stood with a hose just like is used by the
fire companies and just poured the water on him this of
course wag a baptism in honor of Neptune. All who had
not passed the Equator befcre had to go through it but
from some cause Armstrong, Morrison end myself got out
of it. Morrison however, got wet, as did every one else
who stood and watched the performance - nearly ~ a few
exceptions, I being one. Anyone whose-name- was called
and who refused would have a rope put about his waist

and be dragged by several men se no use to rebel. Well,
they had a glorious time - «ll seemed to enjoy ite Our
ether missionary, Wescott, who had quarters with those
of the 2nd cabin hed to go into ite The remainder of the
day passed off very pleasantly, only I hed a slight head
