256 POST-MASTER AND SCHOOL-MISTRESS OF VASSE. 



was a report of a prize-fight to come off during the 

 day, almost everybody that had liberty went ashore. 

 There were seven ships in the harbor, (the Iowa hav- 

 ing arrived the preceding evening), and therefore 

 the number going ashore formed quite an army — 

 no less than one hundred and thirty. The prize- 

 fight, however, took place at so early an hour, and 

 at such a distance from the town, that our country- 

 men were prevented from witnessing it. But the 

 day passed off pleasantly, and with moderation, as 

 far as regarded the imbibition of spirits : no one of the 

 whole motley assemblage, comprising natives of al- 

 most every clime, having gone beyond the proper 

 bounds. 



During the next week I saw one of the partici- 

 pators in the brutal contest above alluded to. He 

 presented appearances of severe punishment. On 

 stating my surprise that he was at large, when the 

 fact of the fight was so well known to the autho- 

 rities, I was informed that the law had no power 

 over the combatant, unless he were caught in the 

 act. 



Amono-st the celebrities in this village are the 

 post-master and school-mistress. The former is as 

 deaf as a post, and it is only by raising the voice to 

 a high pitch that the least intelligence can be com- 

 municated to him. My patience was well-nigh ex- 

 hausted in an attempt to inform him of the mis- 

 carriage of several of my letters from home ; but he 

 either could not, or would not, be made to under- 

 stand my complaint, and consequently I received no 

 satisfaction. 



The school-mistress, from her position, was of 



