Neptune

A mythical god of the sea. When crossing the equator for the first time a forward hand, in former days, was conducted blindfolded to a seat consisting of a piece of board laid across a tub filled with water. He was informed by his messmates that Father Neptune would be along shortly to interview him and give him a pass to cross the line. Shortly after this a tremendous bellowing would be heard from over the bows; the blindfold would then be removed, and the poor greeny treated to a view of the most astonishing looking object coming from over the bows. A tremendous rope-yarn beard, deck-swab hair that had been dipped in green paint and dried for the occasion, a spare royal, or some other light sail for a robe, trident in one hand and a speaking trumpet in the other, completed the tout ensemble of this mythological deity, who roared his questions into the victim's ears through the trumpet. Neptune would then decide that the applicant required shaving, so the face of the sufferer would be covered with Stockholm and then scraped off with an iron barrel hoop. Next the victim would be congratulated for passing the ordeal, and again blindfolded; Neptune would disappear; the board pulled away from across the tub, and the final scene would be the newly initiated floundering about in the water to the intense amusement of all hands.