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The Flinders papersletters and documents about the explorer Matthew Flinders (1774-1814)
 
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Portion of Flinders' journal on HMS Providence (1791-93) (FLI08a) Page 9


and scrap [sic] it with the smooth edge of his Razor, tho I did not
find it remarkably so, when this was done, Now says Neptune
we must give him a wash, yes says another lay hold here and
give us a Hoist, but stand clear of the whip that he may
go down nicely – its only three Times Sir – yes thinks I that's
often enough – in a moment my Seat went from under me,
I fell back wds in the Water, ^ sluice comes half a Dozen buckets over me they took the Handkerchief off my
Eyes, and I found my self in a large Tub full of Water, and
every body with Buckets in their Hands in their Heaving at me –
on my left hand stood Neptune, his Wife our Gunners mate
and two other Seamen disguised as Neptune, his Wife and the
Barber, such horrid Figures, painted, plaisterd, [sic] blackd, [sic] Swabs
for Tails, [illegible] and Oatmeal instead of Powder and Po-
-manture, however, I got in amongst the rest, laid hold of a
Bucket and without any Remorse of Conscience sluiced away
at the next poor Devil that came – some of the Gents who
had croƒsd [sic] the Line before got up into the Tops thinking
to escape getting wet, but they were pursued by those that
were so, ^ who had Buckets of Water handed up sent to them with
which they compleatly sluiced these prior Equatorians, so
that the only Advantage the [sic] reapd [sic] from having croƒsd [sic] the Line
before was not being shavd [sic], after every Man had been
brought up in Succeƒsion and undergone paƒsd under the Hands
of the Tonsor, a kind of Water War commenced, one Party
against an other, which ceasd [sic] gradually and was given
up at the Captains expreƒsing a Desire that it shoud [sic]
then every one went below, and put on dry Cloathes [sic] and
the whole was concluded by the Captains giving each
Man a Dram – thus this famous Ceremony ended.


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Related people
Pope Clement XIII
Guthrie, James
Nichols, William
Bligh, William
Flinders, Matthew
Smith, Christopher

Places
Tenerife
Cape of Good Hope
Timor

Vessels
Providence

Words and phrases
Marvel of Peru
Candelaria
Aloe americanae
Euphorbia
Semper vivum
Hottentot
Trifolium
Aloes
Order of St Dominic
Spanish mackerel
Hedgehog fish
Portuguese man of war
Dolphin fish
Time keeper
Spermaceti whale
Nautili

Related Documents
Other documents written by Flinders, Matthew