Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-02
NoL. n.-No. 46.

DciiS arc then brought forward. The, style
OF tne handbLl issued ON these occasions ;s
sinSuiariy indicative o. that propensity TO be
pomPous and bombastic, which the Soon.
iards ndIcule In the Portuguese, g. for which
they themselves are equally remarkable. Il
begins thus: The king our master. whom
may God preserve, has been pleased to name
TINS day for the fifth course of 400 Hos. oron-
leu " ms majesty for the benefit of hisroya!
hospitals and the qualification af his yassals.
LIS eXceiiency, the corregidor Of this very
ee1oic city, will preside over the Plazo. Tho
.u .W 10 commence with two valiant no.
| amateurs, bernardo Berrnudez, and Ramon
de Rosa 'oi'
This modest Invitation was alv,ays sniff.
cient TO bring together several Thousand
motley Madriienios and Madrilenias. Few
or none OF the Spanish gentry were pre-
sent on ihese occasions, and the boxes of the
upper row were almost entirely deserteSi.-I
40 not hnoW, however, whether they conf
nue. TO avoid the Plaza in summer. when the
number of nluertoS-bulls which are to d,e in
The arena--instead OF two. is increased To-
SIX, and when Il hotter sun madLens the yic,
uEils into deadlier fury. The second royy
vas usually better flIeJ, with company, how
ever, by no means select. The wen dressed
persons we're chiefly strangers belonging TO
me different legations interminsed with Of
Hcers' royoiist volunteers, shopkeepers, and
women, congregated together or else s;nul,,
with small children by the hand. and moi !.
few suckling their infants Here and there
too, one might see a dirty priest, who. ha,.
ing chanted himself hoarse in the morning
comes with his snuff or cigar;Ho to pass
more congenialiy the evening ol the Sab
bath. But the uncovered benches of ih..
patio were ever filled 20 OVERLOOKING. They
were the iavorI.e resort Of the populaee. and
20 vagabond ever remained away who
could muster the dos reales demanded 1or
admission, whether by stealing or starvation.
Here tue cGna!ld are in all their glory
Whilst the contest lasts, they encourage or
reproVe the conlbatants, applaud or BELOW
al the pull, then shout, swear, and whistle
during the period of the interlude. 1t is
they, IN fact, who give tone and character
TO the whole entertainment.
The hour appointed for the commence.
ment OF the feast having at length arrived
tue corregidor takes his seat in the roval how
supported by his officers A priest also re-
mains u waiting with su nsogesIad-the host
----ready to administer the sacrament 10 the
dying toTeros. The trumpets now sound.
the gate under the royal box is thrown open,
and two atgUG=its enter the lists, mounted
on proud Andalnsian studs, whose heads are
nan hidden under names parted In the mid
die, with eyes glaring fercely through their
foreiocks, and tails which sweep the arena
These noble beasts are seen 10 sill create
advantage by being richly housed. with
powerful bits, plqued saddles and broad stir,
rups, alter the manner of the East. As CcY
the oIgua-'tS themselves, they have in their
hands their black Wands Of Office, and ara
dressed III cloak. buskin, slashed sleeves. ruff.
mes, ami planned hat-the gracious costume,
OF Herman CcgteZ and the Cid. Having
rode round the lists, 10 clear them of those
who have been sweeping and sprinkling the
ground, and Of the canGila who have been
wrestling and rolling over in the dust. they
meet each other in the centre, aud then ride
TO the box of the CorrcgiGog, before wI,icI,
t3ey make en- obeisance 10 signify that every
thing Is ready for the opening Of the feast.
Upon this the corregidOr waves his handheF-
chief, and the music stationed at the oppo-
site side of the ampitheatre sounds march.
The folding gates are thrown open at tho
lett, and the otUIOs enter, escorting the two
picodoreS.
The cduios, or cheats, arc dressed as ma.
JOS, some in black, some in green, and some
IN crimson. They are all beautifully made
men, and are seen to peculiar advantage in
tneiT tlyht SUIT, ornamented with punches OF
ribbon at the knees and shoe-tes, and in the
hair. Beside a worked oambric handkeY-
chief floating from either pocket, each cAuIo
wears silk cloak of green, red or yellow,
This serves 70 irritate tho bull and to divers
his attention.
The Picadores wear Moorish Jackets om-
broidered with gold, large fiat hats OF white,
ornamented with roses gay ribbons, and
which are confined by'a string passing round
the chin, and buckskin rowsers lined with
plates OF armor, to protect the Ice. Their
lance IS long and heavy, with small three
cornered point Of steel at the cad. This
point is wound round with yarn, so that the
more II is pressed by the bull, the deeper it
enters. The lance of the gicador serves to
turn the bull off, but does him little injury,
indeed il may rather be looked on as a de
fensive, than as an offensive weapon. Thus,