The Bung-Up Fraternity.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 72

The Bung-Up Fraternity.

Many quaint and curious customs, humorous and pathetic, survive among sailors, and now and then a new one arises which seems to have no connection with the old once. Just as tho liner has bred a new tj-pe of seaman and a new sea-faring class — th© stewards, — ao theee latter seem to have established a Neptune of their own — a houmorous social deity known as the Grand Worthy Bung, head of the Society of Bungs.

Tho Grand Worthy holds court principally in the Ohina and Australia trade, though members of his court frequently spend the summer in trips across the Atlantic, generally on such vecsele as sail from, Southampton, whither come the ships from the south and east. When trade is dull on the passenger ships of the Oriental lines, in summer, it is good on the trans- Atlantic liners, and stewards are transferred to them, whore the harvest ie greatest. It is only below decks, however, that the steward puts off his alert and respectful manner, and frolics with his fellowe.

In the seclusion and freedom of tho "glory hole," when the stewards are on duty, you might 6ee a steward draw a cork from his pocket, step up to another, and cry: "Bung up!" Then must the man addressed produce a similar cork. If this badge of membership is lost or mislaid, the loser is fined twopence for the benefit of the treasury of the society. Then there is apt to be a chorus of "Bung up !" from the onlookers, who are also members, and for each who so addresses him the unfortunate who has mislaid his precious token must pay the twopence fine, up to the sixth time. After that he is exempt — until the next time.

That is about all one will Gee of the Bung Society on the short Atlantic trips, but on th© longer voyages to India and China it flourishes to a. much greater extent. There, in the forepeak or the "glory hole," the Grand Worthy Bung holds court on frequent evenings with quaint and amusing epremony. None at these sessions may address the Grand Worthy Bung unless spoken to, under penalty of twopence; none may enter the lodge without the password, and if a member is addressed by the Grand Worthy he must always in replying call him by his full title, or be mulcted. The penalty for profanity is a penny a word, and for dumb motions there is a like fine. There aye fines also for misappropriating another man's insignia of membership, for falling aslesp during lodge meeting, for neglecting to learn passwords or ritual, or for disclosing either, to another member, and a host of other things that insure al&rtnrGS and loyalty. The chief steward, though one of the dignitaries of the ship, generally belongs to this whimsical society ; but it is not permitted to "Bung him up," and he is not subject to the penalties; instead, he stands a stated assessment of half a eovereign. The society is thus not only permitted but encouraged. It conduces to fellowship among the stowaids, trains them to be alert, watchful and respeotfu! — qualities valued highly in the profession — and gives that touch of humour to life on shipboard that brightens long hours and wearying labour. The money which accumulates in the treasury is spent at intervals in a jollification ashore, when the members of the society are able to atttnd, and this may take the form of a dance in London, a picnio up the Hugli in India, or a ehopstiek dinner in some dimes o tea garden. — Baltimore American.