160 
BOOTAN. 
Towards the dose of the afternoon we were entertained with the 
exhibition of a bull fight, between two animals, the strongest and 
fiercest of the species I ever beheld. They were of a foreign breed, 
from a more eastern part of the same range of mountains, and in Bengal 
are termed Gyal. Their heads were small, their necks thick, their 
chests prodigiously deep, and their fore legs remarkably short. The 
carcase lessened towards the loins, which made the hind legs appear 
much longer than the fore. Their colour was a dark brown, almost 
black. They were led to the ground between many Booteeas, well 
secured, with strong ropes fastened to them : they struggled violently, 
as impatient of restraint, and their prominent eyes rolled with fury, as 
if they were instructed in the fierce purpose, for which they were 
brought hither. Many men took post round the field of battle, armed 
with large bludgeons. The bulls were released on opposite sides ; and 
the moment they felt their liberty, they tore up the turf with their 
horns, elevated the spines of their backs, and appeared animated with 
the strongest symptoms of rage. They did not at the first instant rush 
together; but, turning sideways, eyed each other askance,all the while 
making a slow circular advance, until a very small distance divided 
them : they then turned, opposing a full front, and ran impetuously, 
their heads meeting together with an astonishing concussion. The 
horns, which constitute the guard, as well as weapons of offence, were 
now entangled, and they maintained the struggle, like wrestlers, for 
half an hour, with surprising exertions of strength ; the ground yield¬ 
ing to their heels as they pressed their brows, and alternately retreated 
and pushed forwards in the conflict. At length, as their strength di- 
