60 



WILD SPAIN. 



fight may to-day be seen in its highest perfection and 

 development. It provides both the best bull-fighters and 

 most valued strains of the fighting bull. It may be added 

 that the Andalucian nobility were the last of then order to 

 discontinue their historic pursuit : and when,, during the 

 darker days of this sport, the Royal order of the Maestranza 

 de Sevilla was created by Philip V., it was conceded in the 

 statutes that members of the order could hold two corridas 

 with the long lance annually outside the city walls. Three 

 gentlemen subsequently received titles of exalted nobility 

 of this order in respect of brilliant performances with the 

 lance. 



Though Andalucia is the stronghold both of the Toro 

 and of the Toreador — the scene of the popular bull- 

 fighting opera of Carmen is appropriately laid at Seville — • 

 yet the oldest of all the Spanish herds is pastured in the 

 rough country around Valladolid, in Old Castile. This 

 caste has been in existence since the fifteenth century : from 

 it the old nobility selected their bulls, and it furnished 

 the kingly contests of Philip and Charles III. This 

 herd is known as El raso del Portillo, and, though entitled 

 to pre-eminence in respect of antiquity, yet several of th& 

 more modern breeders command higher prices. The ever- 

 increasing demand has driven the cost of a " warrantable " 

 five-year-old bull up to £70 or £80. To succeed in uniting 

 the various qualities required in an animal of this value, 

 great judgment in breeding and a considerable outlay are 

 necessary. 



At the age of one year, the young bulls are separated 

 from the heifers, each animal branded on the side with 

 the insignia of its herd, and on the neck with its number 

 therein, and turned out loose on the plains to graze with 

 its companions of similar age and sex. When the 

 youngsters have passed another year, their critical time has 

 arrived, and their first trials for mettle and fighting qualities 

 take place. The brave are set aside for the Plaza : the — 

 comparatively — docile destroyed, at least by scrupulous 

 breeders ; while from the chosen lot a further selection is 

 made of the sires for perpetuating the breed. From the 



