THE RONDA-PAIR BULL-EIGHTS.
The Theatre being filled, and every countenance displaying the most intense anxiety, a flourish of trumpets announced the approach of the Governor, who entered his box. This was the signal for the commencement; and a military band of music immediately struck up. The picadores on horseback, half a dozen in number, now entered the ring, and adeancing to the Governor's box, made an obeisance, and having received their lances wheeled round and made their exit on the opposite side. They were mounted on the most wretched-looking animals possible, complete dm- horses, with a bandage over their right eye. A. flourish of trumpets now made the whole theatre resound ; and the doors being thrown open, the procession en- tered, consisting of six picadores mounted, followed by the matadores and ban- derilleros, who are provided with gay-coloured cloaks or scarfs, to divert the attention of the bull after he has made an attack on the picador. As soon, therefore, as the bull has made a charge upon the picador, the banderillero runs up, and throwing his cloak towards the bull, and shouting at the same time, the anima/ is induced to leave the picador, and makes at his new opponent; who, having now succeeded in drawing off the animal, effects his escape by jumping over the area among the spectators. More than once I observed the bull made a dash to follow him, and not unfrequently he has been enabled to effect his purpose. Every thing was now ready. The trumpets flourished a second time; the doors flew open ; and a fine black bull dashed through at full speed into the area, and was greeted by the loud acclamations of the spectators and the waving of innumerable handkerchiefs of the fair sex. For a few seconds the animal ap- peared lost and stupified at the gay scene before him ; but it was only momen- tarily, for, wheeling round, and perceiving the first picador, he made a furious charge on man and horse ; and was dexterously received on the point of the lance. Bellowing with pain and fury, the bull turned aside and bounded once more into the middle of the area. The second picador now advanced for the purpose of Attracting the notice of the animal; but, rather to our astonishment, in another instant we saw both horse and rider sprawling in the dust. In the meanwhile, the banderilleros sprang forward like lightning to his assistance; and, drawing off the bull to the opposite side by waving their gar cloaks in front of him, the picador was enabled to make his escape without having received any particular injury. The bull in the meanwhile was venting his rage upon the unfortunate horse, which received so severe a wound as to survive it but a few minutes.
The bull now galloped wildly round the arena; and was not long in making his attack upon the third picador, with such strength and fury that both horse and man were lifted from the ground. The poor horse, after staggering for some distance with his bowels protruding, fell dead, and was dragged out. 'Viva torro! viva!" resounded from all sides. The bull certainly was game to the backbone. Every horse had suffered from the attacks of the furious animal. It was not sufficient for their bodice to be ripped up and their insides exposed : as long as they could be kept on their legs, the picadors on their backs kept urging them, bleeding and exhausted, round the arena to make a fresh attack ; until, in some instances, the bowels, hanging down and dragging upon the ground, were actually trampled upon and torn out by the tortured animal; when it fell down and expired. The dead and wounded horses being dragged out on a kind of carriage drawn by three mules, the trumpets again sounded, and the banderilleros hastened to attack the bull with sharp-pointed darts, barbed at one end : each hurled his dart with so true an aim that the creature's back was literally covered with them; when, mad with pain, it galloped after each of its persecutors in succes- sion; who saved themselves from his rage by vaulting over the barrier among the spectators. The third and final scene was now about to commence, concluding with the death of the bull. All eyes were now fixed on the matador, whose name was Montez ; he was considered the first matador in Spain, and had come pur- posely from Madrid to be present. He was most picturesquely dressed. On his head he wore a short black cap, his jacket was of light blue silk richly em- broidered with silver, with arose-coloured satin-worked waistcoat ; his breeches were also of light blue silk, richly worked in silver at the knees, with white silk stockings and blue morocco shoes. In his left hand he carried a small crimson scarf or cloak, and in the other a straight sword, about four feet in length. Having approached within six feet of the bull, he held out his flag, conceal- ing under it his sword. The animal made a rush towards him, and received the sword between the horns up to the bilk. The bell staggered for a minute, and dropped lifeless in the arena. The matador, now drawing out his sword, made a low bow, and retired amidst the most deafening plaudits of the spec- tators.
Eight bulls, the extreme number upon these occasions, having been brought in and tortured as I have just described, and at least twenty horses killed or dangerously wounded, the exhibition for the day was over; and the spectators departed, one and all highly delighted with their afternoon's amusement, but looking forward to a similar gratification on the ensuing day.
BURLESQUES OF THE BULL-FIGHT.
The second day of the bull-fights was but a repetition of the first, with this difference : a young Spanish girl having been much pestered with the flaming speeches and passionate looks of her lover, a tailor of most diminutive size, de- clared she would have nothing more to say to him unless he showed his cou- rage in the arena, and proved himself, at all events for the day, a matador equal in coolness and bravery to his rival Mentes. The little tailor was sorely perplexed what to do: he did not wish to lose his mistress, but be was still more /oath to lose his life. Love and vanity at length got the better of his cooler judgment. in a state three parts bordering on in- toxication, our little hero entered the arena. His heart was big within him; the fatal moment was arrived when be was to encounter the furious bull.
All eyes were anxiously fixed upon him : the flag and the sword were in his hands: the bull rushed towards him ; and before he could strike the fatal blow which was to establish his character as a matador, the enraged animal, making a sudden bound, caught him by the horns, and dashed him over the barrier among the spectators. Whether the little tailor was killed by the fall, I was not able to ascertain ; but that he was severely injured, and never likely to figure a second time in the character of a matador, I have little or no doubt.
The third day was the most amusing of the three. A number of women
were dressed up as picadors, &c., and attacked with blunt lances a parcel of young heifers. Two or three experienced banderilleros were in the arena to prevent any accidents : there was a great deal of romping and laughing, and a number of excellent jests made on the occasion, which I was not near enough to catch the sense of. Several of the women were tossed, and caught in the arms of the banderilleros ; but as the horns were cased with leather and padded round with soft wool, neither horse nor rider, in this day's amusement, received any injury.
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