The Sun.
London, England, 1827-07-31 00:00:00

PORTUGUESE BULL FIGHT.

(mom OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
LE BON, JULY 14.---Nothing of any: n,
Consequence has taken place her since I ad--
dressed von last. The 4th Foot have arrived from
up the country, and are to he stationed at Cascaes,
bet Ween Fort St. Julian and Belem. The 60th
Reginient has also been ordered down from Leiria,
and the 10th Hussars are expected from Rio Major.
In the absence, therefore, of more important matter,
I shall endeavour. to give you some account.of a bull
fight, the first of which for the season, took place
here on Sunday evening last. This is a species of
barbarous amusement; to which.the Portuguese look
forward with great delight, although they are by no
means so perfect in tha sport as the Spaniards, and
they are consequently obliged to hire some of the
performers from. the sister kingdom. Thy animal=,
however, are equally good and ferocious. Those in-
tended for Lisbon, are chiefly bred in the neigh-
bourhoOdof Saivateira and Cartaxo, and also in a
wild' tract of coinitrv, lying between the latter place
and Rio Major ; and so enthusiastic are the natives
here in the pursuit of this amusement, that many
persons even of distinction ride out for several miles,
to meet the bulls when Irought from the country
towards town.

On Saturday evening, I accidentally met one, of
thee cavalcades, conveying several wild bulls, in-
tended as:victims for. the following day. They were
mixed With some tame oxen, without which they
could, not be driVen with any degree of safety into
the city : as it was, I understand, that they killed
two horses on the way. An escort of cavalry went
out to meet them, as did also, Don Miguel's Major
Domo, driving -the PrinCe's favourite low phaeton,'
with six small white mules. The persons who had
charge of the bulls, appeared equally savage : they
were mounted on high thin horses, who had never
known either curry-comb or brush : their equipment.
consisted of a rude saddle, covered with sheep's skin,
the Woolly Side'Out,"from which were suspended two
small wooden boxes, to receive the feet as far as the
instep, by way of stirrups. The dresses Of the
heroes th-emselyes, consisted of a blue worsted elastic
cap, of the shape of 'a night cap, a- short jacket
thrown, over the shoulder, tight. breeches, with
coloured worsted stockings and shoes, or long boots,
in either case with a spur on, the .left: heel. They
carried long sicnder poles, about. 15 feet in length,
haYing a small sharp iron point, over their shoulders,
which they use with great dexterity in driving the
cattle, and turning their course, in situations where
they could not otherwise- reach them.

i roust now, however, come to the scene of action
—which is a large amphitheatre, principally built
of wood, in rather' a rough .style, but: well enough
suited to the pastime. Here the inhabitant; of Lisbon
throng, more eager than to witness the finest spectacle,
and the -place is not unfrequently graced by thc.Royal
presence. The ring is very spacious, and is Only
roofed over the heads of the spectators. The ad-
mission to the Shady. side is charged double the'price
to that on which the sun 'shines. The doors were.
opened at three (the weather piping hot), and the
performance commenced at five. There is generally
a member of ithe Government present to direct the
business, as was the case on this occasion, In one of
the boxes. A squire on horseback attended within
the ring, immediately below the man of authority's
box, to convey his orders. The chief performer
Was a man on horseback, styled a " Piccador," and
dressed in a fine silk coat, with rocked hat and
feathers. The first bull turned in was worried by
this person, who gallopped about with a short lance
or barbed 'stick, five or six feet long, whi^h he occa-
sionally plunged into the animal's neck and shoulders.
Several of these lances he broke, and left the iron
part, with a portion of the wood hanging to it, in
the bull's flesh. This naturally enraged the animal,
but the ri-an never struck 'at him until attacked.
The bull had red ribbons (as a sign that he was
doomed to die) attached to his horns, on the tips of
which were nobs of wood, to prevent his goring
the horse. 'He . had, nevertheless, great strength
.and power to do -both . horse and man material in-
jury; and, therefore, when closely pursued, some
of those on foot threw a scarlet or
.pink mantle at
the bull, which diverted his attention for the mo-
int.nt from the -object of his fury. After the Pic-
cador had had his play, the " Matador," a man of
death, stepped forward with a Scarlet mantle in one
hand and a sword in the- other ; this was considered
a very nice and expert feat, for while the bull 'was
in the act of rushing at him, he plunged the sword
into the root of his. neck near the. hack, into his
heart, and the animal fell amidst thunders of ap-
plause. The next was: consigned to•the " Capinhas,"
as they are called, five or six persons who perform
on foot ; they were. nearly all smart, well-made,
active Spaniards, dressed in ' fine spangled. silk
jackets, bags, silk stockings, and shoes. They car-
ried a short stick; about te.o feet long, barbed with
iron; in each hand, and when the bull attacked any
of them they stuck these instruments of torture
into his neck and shoulders; where they were left
hanging and. rattling. By a side. spring the men
evaded the filo/ 'of the bull, and procures a fresh
supply, of sticks. As in the case of the Piccador,
when they were in danger, recourse: was: had to the
coloured mantles, or else they sprang • over the ring
amongst the spectators. As this bull, like the; for-
mer, was to suffer death, 'he underwent greater tor-
ment ; some of the barbed sticks had *fireWorks on
.them, and burnt the animal' through the ".bide
to the flesh, the sinO and sight of which
wotild have made. the Ex-Member of Galway's
very hair stand on -end..i The Matador after-
wards did *his 'office,. and .the carcass was' draWn
off by four harnes:;ed mules. Several other has
were-then, one at a time, let loose, and shoWed good
sport. As most of them were not, however, intended
to be killed, they were,' after the play of the Ca-
pinhas or Piccador, who sometimes took one in
turn, taken by the hand, as it • is termed, by a third
class of persons, styled " Forcadors," who guard the
boxes containing the .barbed sticks, with poles, hav-
in a short blunt iron fork on the end ofeach, which,
On this occasion, they laid aside, and regularly took
the bull by the horns; some of whom were tossed
about in fine style. But they hung on ene animal's'
neck and shOulders until; with the assistance ofninn-
berg, the bull was led off by, them at plea.stire. One,
man nearly lost.his life with this sport. He was Car.:
tied out as if dead,. but he afterwards made his ap-
pearance. The poor squire was unhorsed once, and
received some injury. When any of the men are
found to be dead after they are carried out, the ma-
nager says nothing about it (no Coroner's Inquest
here) but if they recover, it is announced' to the
audience. The performance lasted till eight o'clock,
during which three bulls Were killed; and nine more
sported with. In two cases regular dogs were let
loose' upon them, by way of variety. The company
Was very „numerous, amongst which' were Sir Wm.
A'Court and several British Officers, • one of whom
was a dashing Colonel of Hussai•s, accompanied by
a fair lady, who, regardless. of the opinion of the
world, followed him to the wars..

STATEMENT OF' THE PRESI'.NT STRENGTH AND POSITION OF

THE EMI' IN POEi