THE WHITE URUS. 73 



Rajahs of Dinajepoor, among other expedients which the}- 

 devised with great success to ruin themselves, consecrated 

 in this manner about two thousand cows ; and as no per- 

 son presumed to molest the sacred animals, the vicinity 

 soon became desolate, and the magistrate was at last com- 

 pelled to sell them all, with the exception of one hundred, 

 which were left to the widow to soothe her misfortune. 



We think the following will not be out of place in a. 

 work of this kind. It is not introduced for the purpose of 

 approving of this kind of savage amusement, but simply 

 to show the mode in which it is conducted. This amuse- 

 ment is not confined to Spain, but has been practised in 

 England, and is now practised, in Mexico, and even in our 

 own country. It constitutes one of the pastimes of New 

 Orleans. 



" The excessive fondness of the Spaniards for bull- 

 fights, is a remarkable feature in their manners, and is 

 hostile to the feelings of other European nations, who are 

 less familiar with such sights. The Spaniards themselves 

 regard this practice as the means of preserving energy of 

 character, and of habituating them to strong emotions, 

 which are only terrible to timid minds. But although bull- 

 fighting was formerly reckoned among the royal festivals 

 in Spain, attempts have been made, if not entirely to 

 abolish the entertainment, at least to diminish the number 

 of the exhibitions. 



" These bull-fights are attended with very considerable 

 expense, but they are also profitable to the undertakers ; 

 for the spectators pay for admission as to any other spec- 

 tacle, and the price of the best and most commodious 

 seats is as high as a dollar. The profits which remain af- 

 ter defraying the expense of the horses and bulls, and the 

 wages of the torreadores, or combatants, are destined to 

 charitable purposes. In some cities the principal square 

 is fitted up as a kind of theatre for this exhibition. 



" The spectacle begins with a kind of procession around 



