For a long time, Cottonera used to greet its new recruits to the class of boatmen (barklori) by some sort of initiation ceremony. According to an Article in ‘Il-Berqa’ of the 21^st March 1938, the new recruit was greeted by two strong barklori, seized from the arms and legs, carried to the nearest boat, had his buttocks knocked three times against the prow, taken to the mole, swung three times, before finally being thrown in the water amid the jokes and screams of the other boatmen. This rough experience would have served to prepare the fresh recruit for the tough times he would have to go through to earn his living.