BULL-FIGIITS. 
223 
on horseback ; for the irritated and wounded animal 
sometimes attacks and overturas both horse and rid- 
er ; and when the latter is dismounted and disarmed, 
he is protected from immediate danger by the com- 
batants on foot, who endeavour to provoke and di- 
vert the bull’s attention by shaking before him pieces 
of cloth of different colours ; but in attempting to 
save the dismounted horseman, they are themselves 
exposed to great hazard ; for the bull sometimes 
pursues them, when they escape by dropping a piece 
of coloured stuff, against which the deceived animal 
exerts all bis rage ; or, if this resource fail, the com- 
batant springs over a barrier six feet high, which in- 
closes the inner part of the arena. In some places 
this barrier is double, forming in the intermediate 
space a circular gallery, behind which the combatant 
is in safety ; but in some cases the barrier is single, 
and the bull succeeds in his attempt to surmount it 
when an indesei'ibable scene of consternation and 
confusion immediately follows, which proves fatal to 
many of the spectators, while the unfortunate animal 
falls under the blows which are levelled at him from 
all sides. 
“ If the animal is not dispatched by those on horse- 
back, and if he seem disposed to renew the combat, 
they retire and give place to the handerilleros, who 
are on foot, and presenting themselves before the 
animal, the moment he darts upon them, plunge into 
his neck a kind of hook-darts, ornamented with small 
streamers of coloured paper. The rage of the animal 
