TtlE GREAT CORRAL. 155 



think, one of the most regular in the workl. Every 

 street is at right angles to the one it crosses, and 

 the parallel ones being equidistant, the houses are 

 collected into solid squares of equal dimensions, 

 vv^hich are called quadras. On the other hand, the 

 houses themselves are hollow squares, all the rooms 

 opening into a neat little courtyard. They are 

 generally only one story high, with flat roofs, which 

 are fitted with seats, and are much frequented by 

 the inhabitants in summer. In the centre of the 

 town is the Plaza, where the public offices, fortress, 

 cathedral, &c., stand. Here, also, the old viceroys, 

 before the revolution, had their palaces. The gen- 

 eral assemblage of buildings possesses considerable 

 architectural beauty, although none individually 

 can boast of any. 



The great corral, where the animals are kept 

 for slaughter to supply food to this beef-eating 

 population, is one of the spectacles best worth 

 seeing. The strength of the horse as compared to 

 that of the bullock is quite astonishing : a man on 

 horseback having thrown his lazo round the horns 

 of a beast, can drag it anywhere he chooses. The 

 animal ploughing up the ground with outstretched 

 legs, in vain efforts to resist the force, generally 

 dashes at full speed to one side ; but the horse 

 immediately turning to receive the shock, stands 

 so firmly that the bullock is almost thrown dovvni, 

 and it is surprising that their necks are not broken. 

 The struggle is not, however, one of fair strength, 

 the horse's girth being matched against the bul- 

 lock's extended neck. In a similar manner, a man 

 can hold the wildest horse, if caught with the lazo 

 just behind the ears. AVhen the bullock has been 

 dragged to the spot where it is to be slaughtered, 

 the matador with great caution cuts the hamstrings. 

 Then is given the death bellow — a noise more ex- 



