New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-31

brought the other to the shoulder, and beDnr aoxn
upon H. his face nearly to the plank, eyerted all hi,
torce against the boat treadiog 1t from under him"
While those on one side were thus yas-ng down in
hne to the stem, those on the Diner having faced
about, were passing up toward the bow drawing
their poles floating on The wafer. One man ALWAYS
hood ieisuIely steering, attra Idle of the oar; and
gtneray come one Of the ylen might have heen seen
On the ctck, saving away upon fiddle, with much
eh1gy az II be were ping Indian. In this
way, ttey would walk up the whole length OF the
Hlss'ssippi
The keelbOstmen Kept Their riAes constantly within
reach 1Eey were the most athletic, restless, aud
reckless Get OF meR the country produced. Goa
sahtfy exposed TREY despsed danger, and were ready
10 Drop their poles and have gh just for the fun of
the thur. Goiog shtless, wearing nothing but tro@-
SEN and hats, they tanned and swarthy from the
head to the waist. They seemed to live and thrive
grog, which they took in manner peculiar to them
seves-frst cup Of whisky, and then cup OF river
water, mixing it in the stomach Whoever among
them could boast that he had never been whipped
wac bOund to fight any that might dare TO dispute
his superiority. Tie kctbOatIaen were great stick
l,rs for fsir-ploy," and would permit Of interfer
eDee with either OF the conbatants. Their arrival in
port was a general jubilee, whore huadTecs often met
together fOr the noict and Outlsndish diversions
IN their habits, the keeboatmen were lawless in the
txtr me, and would SGT the ci I'll authorities at defiance
for days together. Had their numbers increased with
the population Of the West, they would have endan-
gtred the peace Of the country; but they went ont
with the cement o. cam navigation and have
gradually disappeared.
Now and then specimen" Of the by-gOne race Of
river bOatmen, who have mostly settled down TO farm
ng, will turn up on the Western steamboats,; and on
such occasions their propensity to " rough fun" will
break out aresb. Some years since, one OF them TOOK
passage down for New-OreaDs and for several days
he seemed quite despondng for want Of excitement
At Last the boat put into Napoleon, IN the state OF
Arkansas for supplies Just at the moment there
was a general fight extending all along IN front OF the
town. which, at that time, consisted %, single grocery
The unhappy passenger, fdgeting about, jerking hs
feet up and down if they were touching upon hot
bricks inquired Of spectator: Stranger, IL this ere
free fghtP' The reply was prompt " Wall, it ar.
ii you want TO go you needn't stand on ceremony
The passenger went in and soon after came out again,
appearing to be reasonably satisied Cropping his way
board his hair half tom out bis coat in tatters one
eye closed up and several of his teeth knocked into
bis throat he sat down hencoop, and soliOquzed
" So this IL Napo-e-OD is IL It's jeest the most re-
fesLiDg place I've seen in many a day."
In the chapter on Kansas, the author presents
succinct view of the antecedents of the present
controversy in regard to the occupation of its SOIL
with lucid sketch of the events that have recently
made it an object Of such universal interest. We
commend his statements to all who wish to possess
a brief record of the conflict between Freedom
and Slavery, which is now raging in that quarter
AGRICULTURE OF MASSACHUSETTS. THIRD ,a AsSuA!
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 8yo; pp 42s; Boston
This is volume made up Of Report, of the State
Agricultural Experm entail Farm-a description of va.
rious improved farm implements, particularly the
plow-reports from County Agricultural Societies
comparison of the present and past state Of agriculture
in the State-agcultural statstics-extracts from ad
dresses by well known ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS alto
ge,ber of the most readable volumes OF the sort
that we have met with; alike creditable to the
compiler, Charles l.. Flint, Secretary of the Board,
and the Board ITSELF and the State it represents. The
printer too is well entitled to commentator for the
handsome manner in which he has put the matter in
form.