BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 493 
the colours and the rich embroidery of their jaquetas. Even 
some Englishmen had adopted this costume, though their 
walk and countenance soon revealed their origin. In the 
long rows of stalls and tents were sold alike the sweetmeats 
and playthings seen at our fairs and valuable articles of gold- 
smith's work. Here a guitar-player attracted the crowd by 
bis performance, and there a conjuror executed his feats of 
legerdemain ; while everywhere you heard the cries of the 
Aguadores, or water-sellers, and the constant tinkling of the 
little bells with which the lampsellers announce their 
approach. ; 
' The throng pressed towards the Plaza de Toros, and 
wrangled with one another for tickets to see the sport 
(funzion) of the afternoon. Dear as was the price, half a 
piastre for the higher row, and twice as much for the seats 
Which are on a level with the circus, nobody hesitated to 
give the money. The poorest mountaineer would have sold 
his last garment, rather than forego this exhibition. The 
fight was to begin at four o'clock; and before three every 
place on the shady side was full. This Plaza is considered 
one of the largest and handsomest in all Spain: it belongs 
to the Maestranza, that is, to the nobility of Ronda, who 
keep it in repair, and let it out annually to the manager of 
the bull-fights. An open building, two stories high, sup- 
Ported by a range of columns, encircles the arena; and each _ 
contains an amphitheatre of seats, separated by a strong 
Wooden partition 5 feet high from the lists. From five to 
Six thousand persons were assembled, all in the highest 
. State of joy and impatience. The young people were col- 
lected in pueblos, that is, according to the town or village 
Whence they came: those from Malaga were the most E. 
numerous and noisy. They shouted, yelled, abused each — 
Other, and above all greeted the ladies with the coarse com- — 
po pliments peculiar to the Andalusians: they sang their [ 
. rs, with the burden and accompanying cadence 
