TAUEOMACHIA, THE FIGHTING BULL OP SPAIN. 61 



moment the fighting bulls are selected, they are treated 

 with the utmost care, and for two years more roam at liberty 

 over the richest pasturage of the wide unfrequented prairies. 

 At four years old they are moved into the cerrados, or 

 enclosures — fields of great extent, surrounded by a wooden 

 stockade and double ditch. The cerrado they never leave 

 till bound for the Plaza. Should pasture fail through 

 drought or deluge, they are fed on tares, vetch, and 

 maize — even with wheat. Their debut in public must be 

 made in the highest possible condition. The bulls should 

 be, at the time, not less than five nor more than seven 

 years old. 



While thus grazing at large on the open plain, the bulls 

 are in charge of herdsmen over whom is the official known 

 in Castile as mayoral, in Andalucia as co?wcedor, assisted 

 by his ayudante. These two spend their lives in the saddle, 

 each carrying the long "garrocha," or lance, as a defensive 

 weapon. The herdsmen go on foot, each armed with a 

 sling, in the use of which they are adepts. 



To return to the two-year-old point in the bull's life — 

 that is, as we have stated, the critical stage in his existence, 

 for then his " trial " takes place. 



It is also an important period for the owner, for upon 

 the proportion of good-mettled, " warrantable " beasts 

 depends the profit and reputation of the herd. It is 

 customary for the owner and his friends to be present at 

 these tentaderos or trials : and a bright and picturesque 

 scene they afford, thoroughly typical of untrodden 

 Andalucia, and of the buoyant, careless exuberance and 

 dare-devil spirit of her people. 



Nowhere can the exciting scenes of the te.ntadero be 

 witnessed to greater advantage than on the wide level 

 pastures which extend from Seville to the Bay of Cadiz. 

 Here, far out on the spreading "vegas," carpeted with rich 

 profusion of wild flowers and pasturage, where the canicular 

 sun flashes yet more light and fire into the fiery veins of 

 the Andaluz — here occurs the first scene in the drama of 

 the Toreo. For centuries these flowery plains have been 

 the scene of countless tentaderos, where, the " majos," — 



