UP A TREE IN THE JUNGLE 189 



size and weight are generally matched to fight, and 

 when once the bulls have been let go, the fight con- 

 tinues till one turns tail and leaves the field. 



Each bull has three or four men who encourage 

 it to greater efforts and when the fight is over lead 

 it away. 



Sometimes one of the bulls declines to fight al- 

 together and rushes away the moment he is faced 

 by his adversary. The victor then performs a 

 strange sort of war dance alone, whirling round 

 and round, tossing his head, bellowing and snort- 

 ing and finally dashing off in pursuit of the enemy, 

 demoralizing and scattering the crowd of specta- 

 tors who fall over each other in their efforts to 

 get out of his dangerous path. 



Usually there is a fight more or less prolonged 

 and when at last one bull gives way and runs for 

 the field, he is followed, caught and brought back 

 again to face his adversary. If he fights again, 

 well and good, but the second bout rarely lasts 

 any time and the beaten bull again saves himself 

 by flight. That settles the matter as far as backers 

 are concerned and the bets are paid. It very seldom 

 happens that a bull is killed or even seriously in- 

 jured. As soon as the bulls arrive on the ground, 

 they are inspected at close quarters by the backers, 

 while the setters-on give the last touches to their 

 champion. They take the cover from the points 

 of their horns, squeeze and rub a lemon on their 

 nose and tongue, and tickle their back and sides. 



