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he presented his head above water; but, although the balls must frequently have struck him, it appeared evident they produced but little effect. We calculated that this shark accompanied us for nearly 400 miles, and frequently reminded us of our imprudence in openly bathing in the midst of the Atlantic.

7th. Spoke the Dauntless. During the remainder of our voyage no event of any importance occurred; an account of the proceedings of each day would, therefore, be little more than a transcript of those of the preceding.

On crossing the Tropic the ceremonies, uniformly adhered to on similar occasions, were performed with more than ordinary burlesque solemnity, and without the slightest deviation from good humour and harmony. The general nature of this maritime frolic is well known; but a description of the manner in which it was celebrated upon the present occasion will be perhaps excusable, as serving to vary the monotonous character of a sea journal. Had our course been so far to the south this whimsi

cal custom would have been delayed until our arrival on the Line; but when a ship's destination renders her crossing the Equator unnecessary, the ceremonies are performed immediately on entering the Torrid Zone.

The night preceding this festive day amongst the sailors, a hollow voice was heard from the bows of the vessel, proclaiming in a loud and menacing tone the arrival of a deputation from Neptune; announcing his aquatic majesty's intention of coming on board the following day at twelve o'clock, with his entire suite, for the purpose of levying contributions and exercising his jurisdiction over those who had now, for the first time, visited the seat of his dominions.

Having performed his mission, the ambassador retired; and in order to produce the semblance of his recession from the vessel in his car, a large tarred hogshead had been imperceptibly set fire to, and lowered into the sea, where its flaming appearance, as it occasionally rose upon the

bosom of the waves, had a very curious and pleasing effect.

At the appointed hour on the ensuing day the king of ocean's approach was announced by a flourish of trumpets, and immediately after, upon drawing aside a sail curtain which screened the forecastle, the procession advanced in grand state, preceded by martial music; Neptune, and the fair partner of his watery throne, being seated in due form upon a gun-carriage surrounded by a numerous train of Nereides. The mighty ruler of the waves was represented by the seaman considered best qualified to give proper dignity and spirit to the character; whilst Amphitrite was most delicately personated by another jack tar, attired with all the grace and elegance that oakum and sailcloth could bestow. The preliminary formalities, &c., being terminated, a considerable number who had not acceded to the monarch's tributary demands, or whose proffered forfeitures had been rejected, experienced the luxury of a tropical shaving; but this part of the ceremony

is too well-known to require particular explanation. The remainder of the day was spent by the seamen with the utmost mirth and jollity.

The officers and men were as usual every morning and evening practised in military exercise, and had become very expert in the management of both artillery and small arms. The weather likewise from this date continued mild and favourable; and, on the 22d, we were enabled mutually to congratulate each other upon the appearance of land, which had been for some time the object of anxious expectation. It proved to be the island of Barbuda, bearing south, distant about five leagues.

Captain Sharpe considered himself fortunate in having made this land during daylight; Barbuda being regarded as one of the most dangerous islands in the West Indies, in consequence of its extreme flatness, and the numerous shoals by which it is surrounded.

24th. On the forenoon of this day we sailed into the harbour of Gustavia, in St. Bartholomew's, where we found (only a

few hours arrived) the ship Prince, with Colonel Wilson's corps on board, and the Emerald, with Colonel Hippesley's regiment, which latter vessel had been in port nearly a week. They gave us three hearty cheers on entering, which we returned with equal cordiality.

St. Bartholomew's belongs to the Swedes, to whom it was restored on the general termination of hostilities in 1814, being the only island they possess in the western world; and is so small and sterile, that their acquisition appears to be one of little real value. The produce is confined to a small quantity of cotton, by the sale of which the poor in the interior principally subsist. Sour-sops*, prickly pears, and some other wild fruits, grow here spon

very

*The sour-sop (annona muricata) grows to about fiveand-twenty feet high, and the fruit generally to the size of a moderate melon, but is of an elongated or oval form, rough on the outside, and of a green colour. It consists of a white and pulpy substance, possessing a sour-sweet taste. As this fruit will not keep more than a day or two after being gathered, it is never conveyed to England; but its use is strongly recommended to Europeans on

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