BULL FIGHT. 



243 



down the arbors and entered the plaza, bearing long poles, with which 

 they built an enclosure on the corner of the square next the prefectura. 

 A pen was erected adjoining, in which, one by one, were placed a num- 

 ber of savage bulls, wild from the pampas. 



The people gathered round and on the balcony of the prefectura; 

 musicians were comfortably and safely seated. As twelve or fourteen 

 able-bodied Indians entered the enclosure, a bull was let loose on them, 

 and the play was commenced. The bull rushed at the first man near 

 him, and as he got away, ran headlong towards the crowd outside the 

 poles. The people laughing jumped on either side and let the animal 

 run his horns into the fence. He became furious, bellowed and tossed 

 the poles of the fence into the air, but they were quickly put in place 

 by the crowd outside. 



Red handkerchiefs were shaken at his head ; some pulled his tail, 

 while one man, who was engaged talking to another, found himself sud- 

 denly raised off his feet by the horns of the bull under his camecita. 

 He was not hurt, for by this time the bull had been teased so much he 

 was tired down, when he was hissed out of the ring and let loose, to find 

 his way back to the plain* 



This was great sport for the Indians ; they seemed particularly to en- 

 joy the fun. Great jars of chicha had been provided by the authorities 

 of the town, and passed round among those who wanted to drink. 

 There were few who declined, and as soon as the bull was let out, bas- 

 kets of bread, made of corn and yuca meal, were emptied from the 

 balcony over the heads of the people, who scrambled after it. The 

 manner in which this bread was presented to the Indians from the gov- 

 ernment store, was the same as throwing corn to poultry elsewhere. 

 They scrambled for it amidst the dust that had just been torn up by the 

 hoofs of the enraged bull. 



After the scramble was over another bull was entered, and the sport 

 continued, while a third was being saddled. An Indian mounted, hold- 

 ing to a strap placed round the breast of the bull ; when they let him 

 loose, the heaving and setting of the animal was most laughable; the 

 man's head was heavily nodded and jerked backwards and forwards as 

 the bull reared or kicked up behind. It was like the tossing of a small 

 fore-and-aft schooner in a heavy seaway. The roars of laughter from 

 the Indians were amusing; they highly enjoyed the saint's day of their 

 city after the programme arranged by church and state. 



The good order at all times maintained, the greetings of the people, 

 and cleanliness of the city are owing to certain internal regulations. 



Fratos, an old Indian, is considered the rich man of Trinidad ; he is 



