BULL-FIGHT. 681 



to the king's balcony, and then went in procession round the 

 square : the elegant singularity of their uniforms produced a very 

 pleasing effect. After them came the four knights in the old Spa- 

 nish dress, with plumes in their hats, mounted on fine horses : 

 each held in his hand a slender lance, and was attended by two men 

 on foot dressed in light silk of the colour of his livery, with cloaksof 

 the same ; these never forsake his side, and are his principal de- 

 fence. The cavaliers then disposed themselves for the encounter, 

 the first placing himself opposite to the door of the place where 

 the bulls were kept, and the other at some distance behind him. 



At a signal given by the king the doors opened, and the bull ap- 

 peared, to the sound of martial music, and the loud acclamations 

 of the people, when seeing one of the attendants of the first cava- 

 lier spreading his cloak before him, he aimed directly at him; but 

 the man easily avoided him, and gave his master the opportunity 

 of breaking his spear in the bull's neck. In the same manner the 

 bull was tempted to engage the other cavaliers, and always with 

 the same success, till having received the wounds with their lances, 

 he was encountered by the other men on foot ; who, after main- 

 taining a sportive conflict with incredible agility as long as they 

 thought proper, easily put an end to him by thrusting a sword 

 either into his neck or side, which brought him to the ground, and 

 then they finished him at once, by striking a dagger, or sword, 

 behind his horns into the spine, which is always immediate death. 

 After this the bull is hurried off by mules, finely adorned with, 

 trappings. 



After the knights were sufficiently tired with these exploits, 

 the king gave them leave to retire ; bulls were then let out, one 

 at a time, from another door ; these were of a more furious 

 nature, and were encountered entirely by men on foot, who were 

 so far from fearing their rage, that they strove to increase it, by 

 darting at their necks, and other parts, little barbed darts orna- 

 mented with bunches of paper ; some of which werd filled with 

 gun-powder, and were no sooner fastened to the bull than they 

 went off like serpents. Nothing can be imagined more torment- 

 ing than these darts ; but the amazing dexterity with which they 

 are thrown, diverts the attention from its cruelty. They also dress 

 up goats' skins, blown up with wind, and increase the fury of the 

 bull by placing them before him, which makes a very ridiculous 

 part of the entertainment. Many of the bulls, how<ver, would 

 not attack them ; and one of the most furious that did ? shewed 



