A POPULAR FAVOURITE. 



33 



and apparently cured forever of bull-fighting. We 

 heard afterward that he only had some of his ribs 

 broken. 



He was hardly out of sight when the accident 

 was forgotten ; the bull was again assaulted, worried 

 out, and dragged off. Others followed, making eight 

 in all. At twelve o'clock. the church bells rang and 

 the fight ended, but, as we were dispersing, we were 

 reminded that another would begin, at four o'clock 

 in the afternoon. 



At four we were again in our places. Our special 

 reason for following up this sport so closely was be- 

 cause we were advised that in the morning common 

 people only attended, but that in the afternoon all 

 the gente decente, or upper classes, of Merida would 

 be present. I am happy to say, however, that this 

 was not true, and the only sensible difference that 

 we noticed was, that it was more crowded and hot- 

 ter, and that the price of admission was double. 



This was the last corrida of the fiesta, and some 

 of the best bulls had been kept in reserve. The 

 first that was dragged on was received with accla- 

 mations, as having distinguished himself before du- 

 ring the fiesta ; but he bore an ugly mark for a fa- 

 vourite of the people, having been dragged by the 

 nose till the cartilage was completely torn out by 

 the rope. 



The next would have been worthy of the best 

 bull- fights of Old Spain, when the cavalier, at the 

 glance of his lady's eye, leaped into the ring to play 



Vol. I. — E 



