DESCRIPTION OF A BULL-RING. 



27 



withes. The interior was enclosed by long poles, 

 crossing and interlacing each other, leaving only an 

 opening for the door, and was divided in like man- 

 ner by poles into boxes. The whole formed a gi- 

 gantic frame of rustic lattice-work, admirably adapt- 

 ed for that hot climate, as it admitted a free circu- 

 lation of air. The top was covered with an arbour 

 made of the leaves of the American palm. The 

 •whole structure was simple and curious. Every 

 Indian could assist in building it, and when the fies- 

 ta was over it could be torn down, and the materials 

 used for firewood. 



The corrida had begun when we arrived on the 

 ground, and the place was already thronged. There 

 was a great choice of seats, as one side was exposed 

 to the full blaze of the sun. Over the doors were 

 written Palco No. 1, Palco No. 2, &c, and each box 

 had a separate proprietor, who stood in the doorway, 

 with a little rickety step-ladder of three or four steps, 

 inviting customers. One of them undertook to pro- 

 vide for us, and for two reals apiece we were con- 

 ducted to front seats. It was, if possible, hotter than 

 at the loteria, and in the movement and confusion 

 of passing us to our seats, the great scaffold trem- 

 bled, and seemed actually swaying to and fro under 

 its living load. 



The spectators were of all classes, colours, and 

 ages, from gray heads to children asleep in their 

 mother's arms; and next to me was a half-blooded 

 maternal head of a family, with the key of her house 



