390 
A^OYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, either by the horns or by whichsoever leg they please, in order to trip 
him up and retain him between them. 
Dec. It is necessary to begin the fight as soon as the animals are 
brought in, as the bear cannot be tempted to eat, and is continually 
exh lusting himself in struggling for his liberty. The two animals are 
then tied together by a long rope, and the battle begins, sometimes to 
the disadvantage of the bear, who is half dead with exhaustion, but 
in the end almost always proves fatal to the bull. It is remarkable that 
all the bears endeavour to seize the bull by the tongue, for which pur- 
pose they spring upon his head or neck and first grapple with his nose, 
until the pain compels the bull to roar, when his adversary instantly 
seizes his tongue, pierces it with his sharp talons, and is sure of 
victory. These battles were the everlasting topic of conversation 
with the Californians, who indeed have very little else to talk about, 
and they all agreed as to the manner of the fatal termination of the 
spectacle. 
Subjoined is a spirited sketch of a Californian lassoing a bull, taken 
from life by Mr. Smyth, in which the method, as well as the costume 
of the natives is admirably delineated. The lasso, though now almost 
entirely confined to Spanish America, is of very great antiquity, and 
originally came from the east. It was used by a pastoral people who 
were of Persian descent, and of whom 8000 accompanied the army of 
Xerxes 
By Christmas day we had all remained sufficiently long in the har- 
bour to contemplate our departure without regret : the eye had become 
familiar to the picturesque scenery of the bay, the pleasure of the chase 
had lost its fascination, and the roads to the mission and presidio were 
grown tedious and insipid. There was no society to enliven the hours, 
no incidents to vary one day from the other, and to use the expression 
of Donna Gonzales, California appeared to be as much out of the world 
as Kamschatka. 
On the 26th, being ready for sea, I was obhged to relinquish the 
* Rennell on the 20 Satrapies of Darius Hystaspes, p. 28T. 
