THE COCKPIT 81 



in cold water, after which they are tied to pegs in the sun, 

 where they remain until about ten o'clock, when they are 

 put in their coops. Each bird is then weighed ' and 

 exercised singly for about a quarter of an hour or twenty 

 minutes, the exercising being done by the trainer holding 

 by the legs another bird which he moves rapidly above 

 and in front of the one on the ground. This is probably 

 the most barbarous part of cock-fighting, for the poor bird 

 which has daily to be pecked at and battered by a dozen 

 others presents at the end of a few days a lamentable 

 appearance. This method of exercising is called carear, 

 and the bird employed for the purpose is known as a^ 

 careador. It is necessary that the careador be game and 

 plucky, otherwise he will refuse to beak {picar) and thus 

 provoke the bird he is exercising to continue to strike at 

 him when the latter gets tired. After the carear the bird. 

 is rubbed down and returned to his coop. He is fed once 

 a day, chiefly on maize, with a little raw beef and hard- 

 boiled Qgg twice or three times a week. The greatest 

 attention is paid to the amount of water allowed him, this 

 being reduced until he gets only two or three mouthfuls 

 daily. At last the day arrives on which he is taken to the 

 cockpit, whither we will accompany him to be witnesses, 

 of his indomitable spirit, and of his contempt of suffer- 

 ing and death. When we reflect upon the pride most men 

 feel in being considered brave, and we note the rewards 

 showered upon those who have exposed themselves to pain 

 and death, even if it be in an unjust cause, we cannot help 

 being struck by the inconsistency of a race of beings who, 

 while looking upon themselves as the lords of creation, 



' A regular weighing-book is kept, in which the weights are entered from 

 clay to day, so that the trainer may regulate the quantity of water to be 

 given to each bird. 



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