SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO* 61 



back, clasping his sides with his legs, and re- 

 sisting every effort of the bellowing brute to 

 dislodge him finally gallopped off into an 

 adjacent wood. 



It was the first time I had ever witnessed 

 any thing like a bull-fight, even of this mimic 

 kind; and as the parties did not seem to 

 apprehend any peril, the laughter, in which 

 the females bore no inconsiderable share, was 

 occasionally very boisterous and long con- 

 tinued. Leap-frog and other rustic sports 

 followed, till some of the ladies remarked that 

 the sun was low, when a general retreat was 

 made to the house. I concluded all was over, 

 but a long old table was brought out, and the 

 friend by whom I had been introduced, 

 whispered to me, that I was now to witness 

 the conclusion of all Spanish parties. 



Cards were produced, the table was im- 

 mediately spread with doubloons and dollars, 

 and considerable sums were won and lost in 



