Equator-crossing info?

[Mark Smith]

Craig Bleakley wrote:
> 
> Just now I was watching some WW II footage on the History Channel (or, if
> you prefer, The War Channel, or even more specifically, The Nazi Channel),
> that showed some of the peculiar and highly detailed ritual involved with
> sailors crossing the equator--without explaining any of it.  GR mentions
> this ritual in passing: Blodgett Waxwing likes to be in on as many equator
> crossings as he can, as I recall(?).  Even here though, for once, Pynchon
> is skimpy with the details. I assume that ritual as a response to crossing
> a man-made line of demarcation is not without relevance to M&D, too
> ("Zeroes in Pynchon": my new dissertation--not).
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas at hand for sources that might tell me a bit
> more about the history and nature of these rituals?  I'd greatly appreciate
> any  pointers and I thank you in advance.
> 
> Craig Bleakley
> Esq.

Just to point out that the Equator is not a "man-made line of
demarcation."  Unlike longitude lines, which are indeed rather
arbitrarily drawn, the Equator is that point at which the sun, the moon
and the planets pass almost directly overhead.  The Tropic of Cancer and
the Tropic of Capricorn are likewise very real lines, determined by the
sun's relationship to the earth, in that they mark the northern and
southern boundaries of the sun's "motion" during the course of the
year.  I am indebted for this information to a great little book which I
have just finished reading called "Longitude" by Dava Sobel, which gives
fascinating background to the "Mason & Dixon" chapters having to do with
the 1761 transit of Venus (observed in Capetown) and the evil Nevil
Maskelyne, prototype for Brock Vond.  This book will change your life! 
Well, it's certainly a good read anyway.
-- 
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