SPANISH CATTLE.] CATTLE, AND THEIE YAEIETIES. [eussiax cattle. 



horse, to keep clear from the pointed horns 

 vfhich -were presented against bira, as well as 

 to prevent the herd from breaking through the 

 livino- net with which it was surrounded. This 

 was, perhaps, the most difficult part, and was 

 attained by keeping each bull separately en- 

 gaged, and thus preventing united action; for 

 what line was sufficient to resist the simul- 

 taneous rush of these powerful animals ? The 

 continued exertion had knocked up many of 

 the horses which had started in the morning, 

 and the circle became smaller and smaller as 

 the day advanced ; several persons, indeed, 

 had been carried ofl', severely wounded by the 

 horns and feet of the bulls. Eedoubling our 

 efforts, however, we at length, about four 

 o'clock in the afternoon, succeeded in driving 

 them into an inclosure, where a number of 

 oxen (all at one time wild) were quietly graz- 

 ing. Here they were kept till required for the 

 next day's sport." These bulls were baited in 

 the square of Alcoxete, converted into a tem- 

 porary arena; and afterwards reduced to a 

 complete state of servitude. Tiie picadores, 

 or men who encountered them, were on foot, 

 and only armed with short darts, and displayed 

 the most surprising courage and address; and 

 when at last they were to be thrown, a man, 

 leaping between the horns, there supported 

 himself till the cords were lashed round the 

 animal's limbs. 



Tlie bull-fights, as conducted in the amphi- 

 theatres of Spain and Portugal — the lingering 

 relics of those contests in which Home so 

 much delighted, and which prevailed more or 

 less throughout the Soman empire — have been 

 often described. These sanguinary spectacles 

 are the delight of the Spanish people, and are 

 not only tolerated, but encouraged by the 

 higher classes of both sexes, who find a morbid 

 gratification in the toruients which the bull 

 endures from the lance of the cavalier, or the 

 horse from the horns of the bull. The most 

 graphic and spirited description of this " un- 

 gentle sport," is that by Lord Byron, in Ghilde 

 HarolcVs Pilgrimage, canto i. ; attached to 

 which there is a note by Sir J. C. liobhouse, 

 which further describes the scene : — " The 

 magistrate presides ; and after the horsemen 

 and picadores have fought the bull, the mata- 

 dore steps forward and bovv3 to him for per- 

 mission to kill the animal. If the bull has 

 GoO 



done his duty by killing two or three hor&es, 

 or a man (which last is rare), the people inter- 

 fere with shouts, the ladies wave their hand- 

 kerchiefs, and the animal is saved. The 

 wounds and death of the horses are accom- 

 panied with the loudest acclamations, and 

 many gestures of delight, especially from the 

 female portion of the audience, including those 

 of the gentlest blood." Of the effects of such 

 exhibitions on the character of the people, 

 nothing need be said ; whatever atrocities may 

 be committed by men, "nurtured in blood 

 betimes," canuot surprise us. 



CATTLE OF RUSSIA. 

 Within the Arctic Circle the ox gives place 

 to the reindeer; but in Iceland, cattle are 

 reared in great numbers, and are valuable. 

 In size and appearance, excepting that they 

 are seldom horned, they resemble the breeds 

 of the Scottish islands. It would appear that 

 the Icelandish farm^ers conduct the breeding 

 of their stock on no principles ; consequently, 

 there is great room for improvement: never- 

 theless, tlie cattle, on the whole, are handsome, 

 and the cows yield a considerable quantity of 

 milk. In Norway and Sweden, cattle are 

 numerous, and also in llussia. Erom this 

 last country, the main exports to England 

 consist of tallow and hides. In that extensive 

 empire vast numbers are reared, principally in 

 the southern provinces ; and the markets of 

 St. Petersburg, and other towns, are supplied 

 with cattle sent from distant parts of the 

 country. The herdsmen live in a state of 

 barbaric simplicity, and are nomadic in their 

 habits. They travel with their herds to Moscow, 

 St. Petersburg, and other places, which depend 

 more upon them for a supply than upon the 

 farmers of the adjacent districts. The follow- 

 ing passage, iu Johnston's llussia, conveys a 

 just idea of the Eussian cattle-keeper and 

 his herd:— "Along the road," he says, "we 

 passed one or two large droves of horned 

 cattle proceeding to St. Petersburg. We 

 learned that they were brought from the prov- 

 inces south of Moscow. These cattle are all 

 of a whitish colour, well made, and of about 

 seven hundredweight. Their journey to St. 

 Petersburg occupies three months ; they travel 

 from eight to sixteen miles through the night, 

 and are allowed to pasture and rest, during the 



