288 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACiriC. 



capeadores and matad6res shook their red cloaks to invite him 

 to attack ; but they danced backwards as he trotted towards 

 them. At last he rushed upon one, and received a slight wound 

 in the shoulder from the sword of a matador, which served to 

 inflame his fury. He gored the musical jackass, and struck 

 such notes as neither jackass nor guitar ever before produced. 

 Wild with rage, he darted upon a rejonead6r, and received a 

 spear wound in the neck, from which the blood flowed freely. 

 He evidently suffered pain, but did not complain, though he 

 stood at bay. The capeadores on foot, and the matadores ap- 

 proached, shook their cloaks, stamped, and shouted, but he 

 heeded not. Small darts loaded with lead were showered upon 

 him, and hung quivering in his hide; this roused him, and 

 with a well directed aim he rushed upon "a light limbed ma- 

 tad6r," who received the attack dexterously upon his cloak; 

 the attack was renewed, but the cloak quit the hand, and quick 

 as thought the long blade was sheathed in his broad chest. 

 His career was arrested ; he staggered once, but recovered ; in- 

 stinctively he separated his feet to gain a broader and firmer 

 base ; his limbs trembled ; he hung his head, and making an 

 effort to cough, belched forth a torrent of gore ; the next in- 

 stant he reeled, and his feet kicked in the air ! From the 

 moment the wound was given, the multitude was silent; no- 

 thing was heard except the discordant and tearing notes of the 

 hautboys, but when he fell, the welkin rang with applauding 

 shouts, <<buen lance, buen lance,'' and the band struck up El 

 Chocolate, another of the Peruvian airs. The matador received 

 his reward, the car was brought, and the carcass whirled swiftly 

 away. 



The next feat exhibited, excited deep interest. A large 

 wooden spear, with a broad iron head, was placed near the 

 door of the toril or den, and inclining upwards towards it. A 

 stout mulatto, gaily dressed, laid flat upon the end, which rested 

 against point d^appui, and in that position awaited the bull. 

 The trumpet and rocket signal was given. All was silent. The 

 door opened, and the bull pitched at the prostrate mulatto, who 

 guided his spear so that the point struck him full between the 

 eyes, and passing through his head, entered several feet 



