Baptism [in Sea Language]

is a Ceremony performed in Merchants Ships, which pass the Tropick or Line for the first Time, both upon Ships and Men. The `Baptism of Ships’, is only the washing of them throughout in Sea Water.

The Baptism of Passengers is performed with many Ceremonies; but in performing either of them, the Ships Crew are generally made drunk, for the Sailors pretend to a customary Right to cut off the Beak-head of the Ship, unless the Captain or Master redeem it.

The Ceremony is as follows: The eldest of the Ship’s Crew, who has past [sic] the Line or Tropick, having dressed himself fantastically, with a Grotesque Cap on his Head, his Face black’d, comes carrying in his Hand a Waggoner or some other Sea Book, followed by the rest of the Sailors, disguised like himself, each of them bearing in his Hand some Kitchen Utensil, with Drums beating; the Leader places himself very gravely on a Seat prepared on the Decks, at the Foot of the Main Mast; and each Sailor or Passenger swears before this antick Magistrate, that he will see that this Ceremony be performed, whenever it comes to his Turn. The Sailors are commonly heartily drenched with whole Buckets of Water poured upon them; but Passengers and those that will give a little Money, are more favourably treated, being only sprinkled with a little Water; Ship Boys are commonly put into a Cage and drenched at Discretion, and are afterwards obliged to whip one another, which they usually do very smartly.