250 THE OX. 



of hunting, nearly as dangerous as the subsequent combat in 

 which the victims are to engage. The country people, from 

 great distances, assemble, mounted on horseback as best they 

 can, and armed with long staves, terminated by long spikes. 

 Lines being formed, they surround the herd, and endeavour 

 to separate the bulls. This they do by galloping to a bull, 

 and goading him with their ' spikes ; the animal, enraged, 

 turns upon his assailant, and pursues him ; but another 

 horseman attacking him in a similar manner, the animal 

 turns upon his new enemy, who is in like manner relieved, 

 and so on, until at length the bull, tired out and bewildered, 

 is separated from his fellows. A sufficient number having 

 been treated in this manner, they are hemmed in by the 

 armed horsemen, and goaded forward to the town or place 

 where the future combat is to take place.* 



The fights of the Circus itself have been described by all 

 travellers who have visited these beautiful countries. The 

 bull, admitted into the arena, is received with the shouts of 

 the assembled spectators. Bewildered and amazed, he rushes 

 forward, but is at once confronted by the Picadore on foot, 

 armed with short darts. The animal rushes wildly on his 

 opponent, who, with matchless dexterity and grace, avoids 

 the onset, and plants his short darts in the neck and body of 

 the victim. Bellowing with rage and pain, the wounded ani- 

 mal gallops round the slaughter-house, and is confronted by 

 other Picadores with the like success, until the spectators, 

 satiated, permit him to be relieved from persecution, or direct 

 him to be slain. But, in other cases, armed horsemen enter 

 the lists, and attack the bull with lances. In this manner, 

 the youthful cavaliers display, to the best advantage, their 

 courage and address. But this sport is more dangerous and 

 bloody than the other, for often one or more horses are mor- 

 tally wounded, while shouts and screams of joy attest the 

 delight of the spectators. In modern Rome, the same sports 



Library of Entertaining Knowledge. Menageries. 



