Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-02


his handkerchief. The attire of the picodor
Is usually soiled by frequent rolling in the
dust; indeed, as he poises the lance, and
kicks his imping beast forward by dnt OF
spurs, To pay his dcvoirs to the corregidoy,
ms whole appearance offers q striking con-
trast to the gallant bearing of the dtguozH.
The winter feast always commenced with
sopiitos cmbotados, whose horns were cover
ed with balls and who overturned the pica-
odres and their horses without doing them
much injury. This contest is sustained u
suafiy by noviccs, whose clumsy efforts to
turn aside the bull give Infinite amusement tS
the audience: and prepare them to estimate
the excellence Of the veteran picadors, who
como utter TO contend with the n,,ierfos. In
deed, to appreciate correctly the difficulty
of any task, we should not only see it we'll,
but i'll executed. The novilios and the nov
ices who contendcd with them, having left
the lists, two old toreroS ride through the
portal, and are greeted with the applause
OF the multitude, to whom they have been
rendered familiar by many feat Of skill and
Courage, and by many scene OF danger.
To give general idea Of the mode OF ut
lacking the bull, it may be sufficient to des-
scribe an individual fight, by far the most
bloody of many that saw in Spain. On
the OCCASION to which l alude, the bull,
though he bore the name Of nopitio, was a
sturdy beast, which might have counted a
iustrun. Though not large, the conforma-
ton Of this bull could scarce have been
moro powerful. He was rather highly built
behind, widening, however, in span towards
thesshoulders, which served as foundation to
thick neck and short head, armed with a
pair of horns, which were not long, but stout
and well pointed. His coat was of rusty
brown, darkoHing into black towards the
neck and shoulders, where it became thick
and curly, like the main Of lion.
This bull had taken the place of q COM
panion who had preceded him to slaughter,
IN the narrow entry which leads from the
torI to the arena. The chuios having taken
their stand with the two picaders drawn up
behind them, the signal was given and the
trumpets sounded martial flourish. The
gates were at once thrown open to admit
passage into the lists, and we now first dis
covered the bull, such as have described
him, endeavouring to force his way through
the iron gate which separated him from the
torit. The poor animal had been tormented
by separation from his flock, by confinement,
by tortures to which his lacerated cars boar
testimony, and by desires which had been
pampered, but not gratifcd. at this mo-
ment prick from the fOrero in the lobby
caused him to turn about, when he discov-
cred an open passage into the lists, and
rushed at once mady In, hoping, doubtless,
that he had at last found an open road to
conduct him to the fertile marshes Of the
Gaudiana, whore he had so long reigned
lord of the herd.
This moment is one Of the most intercs-
Ting Of the whole spectacle The bull is
seen4coming forward in mad career; his tail
writing turlously, head down, mouth foam
ing, nostrls wide open, and fiery, and eyes
glaring fiercely through the matted curls of
his forehead; whilst the red ribbon, nailed
with a barbed iron to his neck, futters wide
~ back, and serves at once as torture and
device. Having reached the centre Of the
arena, he discovers that his hope of escape
was illusory, he pauses, glares with wonder
upon the multitude drawn up in Il continu-
Gus ring around, and who greet his arrival
with shouts, whistIlng, and the waving Of
garments. But though astonished, he is not
terrified. Determined to make good his re-
treat, he cndeavors to accommodate his be-
wildcred eye to the broad day Of the arena,
and to seek out an enemy upon whom to
wreak the first efforts Of his fury
No sooner did the bull discover the chulos,
huttering their gay cloaks, and inviting him
10 victory by showing n disposition to fly
before him, than he made after the nearest at
the top OF his speed. The chute, thus
warmly pursued, waved his crimson cloak to
the right and left, to retard the progress of
the beast by rendering it unsteady, and, ha-
wing with difficulty reached the barrier with
ont being overtaken, he placed his feet upon
the step, and grasping the top with certain
hand, lcapt at once into the lobby. The es-
cape Of the ct,lo was by no means prema-
turc; the bull reached the barrier at the same
instant and as the legs of the fugitive were
vauIting over, his horns caught the futtering
silk, and nailed il 70 the boards Of the bar
rier.
Excited by victory, the bull now makes
Tor the picador. Here IS another situa-
lion which would furnish fine study for the
pencil. The picader is seen drawn up at
short distance from the barrier, with his
lance grasped tightly in bis hand and under
tho arm and nrosentino the TiOht shoulder