EXCURSION TO FONTABON. 127 



early an hour, having letters to write for the 

 post ; but by four o'clock I reached the vil- 

 lage, and found that my friends were out on 

 a pedestrian excursion. 



From the number of holiday folks assem- 

 bled, the place appeared like a fair in 

 England. Having dismounted, I walked to 

 an enclosure, round which I observed many 

 persons collected, who were amusing them- 

 selves with teazing a poor bull, more dead 

 than alive, by shaking and flapping flags and 

 roanas in his face ; one man, however, more 

 daring than the rest, was knocked down by 

 the persecuted animal ; he was not hurt? 

 as the poor beast did not attempt to gore 

 him. Finding no entertainment in this wan- 

 ton sport, I left the place, and met my 

 friends just returning from their walk. 



We all entered the Venta, after having, 

 with considerable difficulty, and no trifling 



