78 SPANISH BULL-HUNTING. 



Tagus, was to be the scene of a bull-fight, and that the 

 villagers for many miles round were invited to join in 

 the hunt, which was to take place on the following day. 

 I accordingly crossed the river in company of about twenty 

 persons, mostly military, each being provided with a long 

 pole, having a small spike fixed in one end, and mounted 

 as inclination or ability suited. When we arrived on the 

 opposite bank, a little before day-break, we found about 

 250 or 300 persons assembled, some mounted on different 

 sorts of quadrupeds, from the noble Andalusian horse to 

 the humble hack donkey 3 and very many on foot. They 

 were all armed in a similar manner to ourselves. As soon 

 as daylight began to appear, we all marched off towards 

 the forest. The morning was peculiarly fine, and the 

 interest of the beautiful scenery was heightened by the 

 varied costumes of the persons by whom we were sur- 

 rounded. As soon as we had advanced some distance 

 into the wood, we halted for the purpose of refreshment, 

 before the arduous and somewhat perilous duties of the 

 day began. After a hasty meal, we divided into two 

 parties one stretching in a long line to the right, and the 

 other to the left. We had not advanced far in this manner 

 before we fell in with a herd of cattle having twelve bulls 

 with it which no sooner descried us than they bounded 

 off" with the speed of lightning. The sport had now began ; 

 we put our horses to the utmost speed, threading our way 

 amongst the tall pine-trees as well as we could, and endea- 

 voring by wild cries to drive the bulls towards the other 

 party. At length, after about an hour's chase, some half- 

 dozen of us who were better mounted than the rest, came 

 up with them, and commenced the attack with our long 

 poles. The manner was this: one person riding at full 

 speed gave the bull nearest him a sharp prick with the goad, 

 which it no sooner felt than it turned upon its assailant 

 and gave chase ; another horseman coming up, attacked 

 it on the other side, when, leaving the first assailant, it 



