The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-01
From Giimpscsof spain.
The Butt Hrlgkts.
The AmbAitkeatye-Speefato Order % C"s'
emonial and Manner Of the Fights.

As we rode into Ronda on the morning
we arrived, met an Irish gentleman whom
had seen at Malaga, and who had come
up. with his wife, to spend the summer in
the mountain air. He very kindly told me
that he had secured box, or 'balcon,' for
the bull.6ghts. and would be happy | should
Join his parry. Early, therefore, on the al
lernoon Of the 20lh. we made our way into
the Plaza, full of expectation and excite
ment as the reader may imagine. it being
our first essay.
The amphitheatre at Ronda is large
one, two stories high, and built Of stone
The galleries are covered by a roof OF
tiles, supported by stone columns; but all
the rest is open to the sky. The distribu-
ton Of the paris is very simple. First, is
the arena, circular Of course, surrounded
by barrier six feet high, Of heavy planks
inserted firmly into square stone columns.
Outside the barrier, there is 'conedor,
some SIX or eight feet wide, running the
whole way round, and oPeningon the arena
by four doors. There is ledge upon the
barrier, on the arena side, some two feet
from the ground, on which the 'chulos'
step, as they leap over when the battle is
TOO hot for them. The 'coredor, around
its outer circle, has another barrier, consid
erably higher than the first, and from the
top OF that begins the lower tier Of seats.
These rise behind each other, at a moderate
angle, and. being nearest to the fight, are
favored as the choice resort Of all the Cit
les and the ''fancy." The second tier has
benches, like the first, which are frequent
ed, chiefly, by the poorest classes, being
cheaper than the range below. 1t has, be.
sides, few BALCONIES for families and
parties, whence you can watch the sport
quite at your ease.
The doors which open from the arena to
to the 'coredor. are placed at the cardinal
points Of the compass. That to the north,
leads out to the main street. Through il
the men Of war come struggling in, as the
appointed hour draws nigh. They make
their exit by the doorway opposite, which
leads "behind the scenes" From this last
direction the new horses and new plea
dores' come out, when they are needed TO
{ supply deaths ravages. The western door
is smaller than the rest, and leads to the
toril, the clubhouse, where the victim is in
waiting. Directly over the 'IoriP the al.
calde sils. surrounded by his fellow-coun.
cilmsn, the municipal balloon being radi.
ant with red hangings. Above the Alcalde'
station, is another box, likewise upholster
; ed famously, where sit the royal and illus
|, trious' Maestranza; a sort Of corporation
: Instituted by Ferdinand and Isabella, foI
the preservation OF Castilian purity of blood
and now ranging, in its dignity an, func
tons, somewhat between Jockey club anc
the House OF Lords. Next to these digni
taries sit the reverend clergy, in their box
$ magnificent with crimson velvet; and, tc
be candid, that box was better filled thar
any one saw. looked in vain, howev
er. for the dark. scowllng priests" of whom
Ford speaks, as snuffing autos de fe il
roasted bull flesh. They were fat, com
|, Portable old gentlemen, deep in the shad
ows OF their shovelhats, and, If the outer
; man be any token Of the inner, more like
ly to enjoy, as all good Christians would
|, the door of roasted capon than the fume.
OF hecatombs OF heretics. If Mr.. ForC
had called to see instead Of slandering then
they would, dare say, have heaped coal,
|, OF hre upon his head, by asking him to din
ner. All Of the boxes have mentioned
are. the reader will observe. upon the west
ern side-the object being las the sport i.
always in the af.efnoon) TO leave the func
tionaries comfortably in the shade. There
. were two boxes opposite. upon the sunny
, slde-one occupied by British officers, nc
, from Gibraltar, the other by the gentleman
whose guest was The sunshine ANNOYED
3 usterribly, in spite Of screens and curtains
and II was easy to comprehend why even
the benches la sombra (in the shaded
commanded the highest prices. In the
balloon of the officers, the trumpeter was
stationed, who. at the signals which the AL.
calde gave with his white handkerchief
sounded, from time to time, the various
summons Of the fight.
II Down to the moment when the sport was
to commence, the arena was full Of people,
walking, talking, and making themselves
merry. When all things were in readiness.
hle OF soldiers cleared the ring; the spec
tators gathered to their seats; the soldiers
took the stations dedicated to their service;
the shouts and screams, the jibes and ieers,
(bromas y 5,Ulas) with which the sover-
e'gns had greeted all they did not fancy,
were for a moment hushed, and the perfor-
mers made their entry by the eastern gate
Just opposite the box Of the Alcalde. First
came the 'banderilleros,' or 'chulos.' as the
people call them, the 'matadores' in front.
and all on foot. Behind were the three
'picacores, mounted, with their spears in
hand. They marched scross. and taking
OIL their hats to the Alcalde, ask ed his leave,
as is the form, to follow their disporting
The Alcalde, nothing 10th, and having him.
sell come on purpose, took his hat of. too.
and owned the soft impeachment where.
upon the troop dispersed, each to his an.
pointed station. The 'picadores' were
dressed with lowcrowned, broad brimmed
hats, such as were worn when Already was
but sheep-walk. They had very rich.
short jackets, trined and embroidered heavi
ly with gold and silver. Under their
buckskin Pantaloons, they wore, upon the
outside Of the leg, from hip to ANGLE. stout
plates of iron that were hoTn-proof. Their
spears were more defensive than offensive
being merely long shafts, shod at one end
with iron and finished ,,;,L = =. r n