They were Portuguese, who had been shipped at the Cape De Verd islands, on the passage out.

They messed by themselves; forming a dinner-party, not to be exceeded ire mirthfulness, by a club of young bridegrooms, three months after marriage, completely satisfied with their bargains, after testing them.
But what made them, now, so full of fun?
What indeed but their merry, martial, mellow calling.

Who could he a churl, and play a flageolet?
who mean and spiritless, braying forth the souls of thousand heroes from his brazen trump?
But still more efficacious, perhaps, in ministering to the light spirits of the band, was the consoling thought, that should the ship ever go into action, they would be exempted from the perils of battle.

In ships of war, the members of the "music," as the band is called, are generally non-combatants; and mostly ship, with the express understanding, that as soon as the vessel comes within long gun-shot of an enemy, they shall have the privilege of burrowing down in the cable-tiers, or sea coal-hole.

Which shows that they are inglorious, but uncommonly sensible fellows.
Look at the barons of the gun-room--Lieutenants, Purser, Marine officers, Sailing-master--all of them gentlemen with stiff upper lips, and aristocratic cut noses.