The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-02
A Mexican Bull Fight.

The Mexican correspondence of the Boston
Transcript writes: r
"The bull fight is still an institution OF
Mexico, performances being given nearly
every Sunday and holiday. 1t is rellc OF
barbarism inherited from Spain. VIII en-
deayor to give an account of the main features
of one of these shows which observed few
weeks since in Cuantitlan, town reached by
a ride of an hour and three-quarters over the
Mexico, TOlucas and Cuantitlan narrow
gauge road This road has been largely built
from the proceeds of a lottery, The cars are
taken in the central portion OF the city ana
are drawn by mules until without us hniIs'
We are left within short distance OF the
ssPIaza de Toros," so called, which is cir
cular arena of about seveRty-iye feet diam
eter, surrounded by board fence SIX feet
high. which is striped with the national colors,
RED. white and green. Outside OF this are the
seats for the spectators, made OF rough boards
and arranged in FIVE tiers, each about TIVE
feet above that below. At the top is space
roofad over and divided into sections, which
are nrovided with chairs. The main portion
of the arena is entirely exposed to sun or ram
hand of about twelve pieces occupies
stand at one side and furnishes music COR
tinuousy through the whole performance.
Cries of sSToros Toros y begin to exhibit
4
commencing. At length doors to the east
are thrown open and the performers enter.
These consist of two clowns, three men
mounted on poor, jaded, blindtolded horses,
and a number of men with red cloths to ex-
ssnerate the bull. The men are dressed IN
snits of green or red, spangled with SILVER
t;nsel. with short knee breeches and white
stockings. and they wear the hair knotted IN
q onene down the back. The riders are pro-
v;ded with long poles, armed on the end with
iron noints to ward off the attacks OF the bull.
A door to the west is now opened and the
animal enters, walking first to the centre oil
the circle and gazing around with an aston,
ished look at the scene presented n Ieu
cloth is now Haunted before him, ana Win
! his head lowered he dashes toward the one
who has dared to offend him. The men cas-
ily lump to one side or, If hard pressed, taSe
| refuge behind a guard consisting OF ooatus
nlaced at a distance of two feet from the III
| rrlos;rg fence. The bull often rushes at the
| horses, and in spite Of thrast from the lance
of the rider, succeeds in goring them, often
in throwing both to the ground: sometimes
| The bull himself is thrown. Nearly every
] bpll kills one or more of the poor horses, put
| the men are seldom hurt. When TINS mas
| continued for some time the horsemen retire.
/ and one of the men, holding a pointed stick
adorned with variously colored papers and
ribbons j each hand, approaches the animal
and throws them into his neck. They Pene-
trate deep enough to draw blood, and the
slight pain exasperates him. Finally the
matador appears with a sword N the riigat
| hapd and red cloth in the left. Concealing
the weapon behind the cloth he 3oiaiy ap-
nroocbes the now infatuated animal, and, as
bs Iowers his head 10 rush at him stabs him,
| in the neck. When done by an experienced
man the wound proves fatal in a few inmates:
The bull staggers and falls, and is dispatched
/ bv thrust from a short knife into the spinal
| cord n the back Of the neck. A rope is now
fastened TO his horns and some horses drag
ont the carcass. The earth Is shoveled over q
| little, and the arena is ready for another com
bat