Travel Diaries and Journals

Travel Diaries and Journals

Pages That Mention Southern Ocean

Robert Suggate journal and commonplace book, 1874-1878.

Indexed

p. 34

an every day affair, that some vessels escape Neptune's visit altogether, in others the crews obtain an extra glass of grog upon the occassion, and that finishes the matter, formerly the initiation which preceded the sailor's claim to the title of being a real 'son of Neptune' was often carried to extremes even to barbarity.

Long before we got near the Equator we learnt the determination of the 'Old Salts' or "Sons of Neptune" as they called themselvs, to give us a clean shave and a dose of medicine. On the day we should pass into the Southern Ocean, both considered very excellent and necessary things in a warm climate, and at the Equator it is warm and no mistake.

The near approach to the Line is always hailed with delight by all those who have been fortunate enough to have crossed it before, it affords them a few hours of liberty and fun, and is a break in the monotony of a long voyage, besides it affords an opportunity of paying off a few "old scores" upon those of their shipmates or others that they may dislike, and we were quite prepared to expect that Neptune would exact his dues to the utmost. We had on board some forty or fifty including several young midshipment who were fresh invaders of his Godship's territories.

Our reckoning with Neptune among ourselves was often discussed on our voyage out, and occupied our thoughts a good deal, and often did the idea flit across our minds that

Last edit almost 4 years ago by bweb

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