The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-04-11

Mexican Sports.
The Ma.amoris, Mexico, correspondent
Of the New Orleans Crescent gives in re-
cent letter an interesting description Of that
most popular sport Of the Mexicans, "bull-
failing" AZ follows:
The great weekly jubilee Of the Mata-
morians 10 on Sunday afternoon. Sunday
week l went out to see the sport called
"bull-tailing." Most Of the population Of
the city seemed to be there, crowded along
on the brcastworks, the sport taking place
on the prairie beyond. Gen. Mejia and
etaG were there; music, Gags, and all that.
The gay shawls Of the senoras and senori-
tas, and the fancy costumes oS the Mexi-
cans; the pen in angle of the Notifications
containing some so head of cattle; and the
numerous gaily-dressed caballeros, pranc-
ing around on their horses, combined to
render the scene one of great interest, and,
artistically considered, real picture to
look at. When the general and staff got
seated in their easy chairs, the band playing
some patriotic air, (which waggish friend
said he thought was either Hail Comexico
or Maxy Doodle the sport began.
The caballeros range themselves in line
facing the ditch, leaving an outlet from the
pen about IL feet wide, through which the
bccves are to run the gauntlet. Several
men with whips then lash and chase the
animals round the pen, till they get them
thoroughly frightened, have steam up for
run. Now one is singled out, and driven
to the opening. Of course he dashcs
through like q regular "bullgine," follow
ed by the cxpertcst among the caballeros,
all grabbing ut his tail. Soon one has it;
the rest fall back; then commences the con-
test. Now, Mr.. Caballero, show your
Workmanship! and you, Mr.. Bull, your
mettle! Away they 60, rippety-clip, hy-
Bulls headquarters arc seen to swerve to-
ward the horse; he falls and rolls over in a
cloud Of dust, amid the deafcning shouts of
the multitude; Mr.. Caballero gallops leis-
urely back, receiving little less honor than
Roman conqueror; and Mr.. Bull gets up
and quietly goes to grazing where he fell.
In this manner the pen was empticd of
all the cattle except one. Quite number
were thrown on the run; others again could
not be thrown after long and exciting races
oyer the prairie. In this, rs in all other
sports, there is science, as was shown by a
handsome Mexican fellow, who flung eight
full grown steers out Of nine he started af-
ter, and nearly all within few hundred
yards Of the pen; and he missed the ninth
only because he took the tail in his left
hand.
The one animal that remained was a
bull to be ridden by come daring fellow
He was lassoed fore and aft, thrown down,
and rope passed round his body for his
rider to hold on by. Let up on his feet,
and his rider seated with firm grip on
the rope and his heels dug into the animals
TANKS, the head lasso was removed and he
started. But they couldn't run him through
the gauntlet; he had seen enough Of that,
and probably judged he would have to un-
dergo failing besides carrying his rider.
So he went through the fence with crash,
sending his rider whirling high in the air,
and GREETINGS most laughable stampede
among the spectators outside the pen. He
travelled some distance before he stopped
and went to grazing. This closed the
days sport. feel free to say that / en-
ioyed it all as much as any Mexican. There
was nothing brutal or bloody in it; it was
pure, harmless fun, and quite as exciting
us horse-racing