The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-29
A BULL FIGHT IN SPAIN.
BY W. C. BRYANT.

The poet Bryant, in his letters to the New
York EUening Post, gives the following descrip-
ton of bull fight which he witnessed in
Spain.
That afternoon, at the special urgency of
Don Pedro-for l wished to postpone the
spectacle ill should arrive at Madrid-I went
with one Of our party to bull fight. "This is
the last day." said our Spanish friend; to-
morrow the ampithestre will be removed, every
plank Of it, and we shall have no more COM
bats for year." We found the place, which
they told us was capable of containing six
thousand persons, already full of persons i'm
patiently drumming with their feet, to hint that
At was high time for the sport to begin. Nine.
tenths or more of them we're of the laboring
class, and their bright colored costumes, par.
ncuiary those OF the women, gave the crowd
gay appearance. Many children of various
ages were among them, and some of these,
showily dressed and attended by nurses, were
evidently of opulent families. We took our
places in the uppermost circle, under a narrow
sort of root, which sheltered us from the sun
below us was range after range of seats open
to the sky, descending to the central circle, the
arena, in which the combsts were to take place.
An alguazil, in black, first rode round the
arena, proclaiming the regulation of the dsy.
He Was followed by procession of the per
formers, in their gay dresses the picadores-
glittering with gold and silver lace-on horse
back, with their broad brimmed hats and long
lances; the shulos on foot, with their red
cloaks; the 6dnderilleros, with their barbed
shafts, wrapped in strips of white paper; the
mdtddoreS, with their swords and lastly. three
mules, gaily caparisoned, with strings of little
bells on their necks, who were to drag ont the
slain bulls. Loud shouts rose from the crowd
and then door was opened, and an enormous
bull, jet black, with massive cheet and glazing
eyes, bounded into the arena. He ran frat at
the chutos, who shook their cloaks at him. but
his rage soon appeared to sutside. A picadore
put his lance against the animals forehead. but
he shook it off and turned away. The chulos
again came capering about him, and irving 10
provoke him, but he pursued them only few
steps. Then rose the cry of All, que es manso !
que es D,dnsol codarde, codarde ~ FINALLY
the people began to call for the dogs. Los
perTos! Los perros! rose from thousand
throats. Three large dogs were brought. which.
barking loudly, flew at the bull with great fury
de TOOK them, one after another on his horns.
and threw them up in the air; one of Them
he caught in his fall, and tossed him again
The dogs tore his ears into strings, but thew
were soon either disabled or cowed, and onl,
attacked him wariy, while he kept them eff by
presenting to them first one horn aud then the
other. Then the dogs were Withdrawn, ard
the chutos tried him again, but he would no,
chase them far the picadores poked at him
with their lances, but he declined to gore their
horses. The crowd shouted vigorously, "Away
with him away with him " and at length the
door by which the bull had entered was set
open, that he might make his retreat.
But the bull would not go; be was not mind
ed either to light or quit the field. Kill him
kill him y exclaimed a thousand throats-aud
the signal was given, in obedience TO which.
one OF the motadores-the primera espada.
as the Spaniards call Kim, just as the Italians
say pr'md do'and-msde his appearance, with
a red cloak on his left arm, and long. glitter
ing, straight sword in his right hand. He shook
the cloak at the bull, who made a rush at II
while the ntatador at the same moment at.
tempted to pierce the animal to the heart
through the chine. Three times he sought To
make the fatal pass at the third he was sue
cessful, buryiDg the blade up to the hilt. A
torrent of blood flowed from the creatures
mouth, he staggered, and fell; sound of little
bells was heard then three mules, harneese6
abreast, came in, and dragged out the Hfeless
carcass.
Another bull, of smaller size, but of more
savage temper, was then let into the arena.
he ran fercely at the chuios, chasing them into
the places Of shelter built for them beside the
barrier, and the crowd shouted, " Es may bra.
20, csc! muy brdpol A picador touched with
his lance the forehead OF the animal, who in.
stantly rushed towards him, raised with his
horns the horse he rode, and laid him on the
ground, ripping open his bowels. then per-
ived, with sort of horror, that the horse
had been bindfolded, in order that he might
not get out of the way of the bull The chulos
came up With their red cloaks, and diverted
the attention of the bull from his victim, while
the picddor, who had fallen under his horse,
was assisted to rise. Four other horses were
brought forth, blindfolded in this manner, and
their lives put between the picador and the
fury of the BULL and each was killed in its turn,
amidst the shouts and applauses of the crowd
One of the bdndilleros now came forward.
provoked the bell to rush at him, by shaking
bis cloak before his eyes, and, leaping aside,
planted one of his barbed shafts with its paper
streamers in each of the animals shoulders.
Others followed his example, till the bleeding
shoulders of the bull we're gsrnisAed with five
banditieros on each side. The creature, how
'"Ah, how tame he is +, how tame he is q coward I,
o coward