Besides the captain, there were several well-dressed personages on board, who appeared to take an interest in the cargo, and lived in the cabin.

But harmony did not characterize their intercourse with each other.

At times violent altercations occurred, which, being carried on in the Spanish language, were to us neither edifying nor amusing.
One Sunday morning, after the Spanish schooner had been about a week in port, and was nearly ready for sea, a fierce quarrel took place on the quarter-deck of the vessel, which, being attended with loud language, menacing looks, and frantic gesticulations, attracted the attention of all who were within sight or hearing.
Two of the Spaniards, large, good-looking men, were apparently very bitter in their denunciations of each other.

They suddenly threw off their coats, which they wrapped around the left arm, and each grasping a long Spanish knife, the original of the murderous "bowie-knife,"-- attacked each other with a ferocity terrible to behold.
Every muscle seemed trembling and convulsed with passion, their eyes flashed with desperation, and their muscles seemed endued with superhuman power, as they pushed upon each other.
Many furious passes were made, and dexterously parried by the left arm, which was used as a buckler in which to receive the thrusts.

At length one of the combatants received a wound in the chest, and his shirt bosom was instantly stained with blood.