VENEZUELA -

Page 79

—

THE BULL FIGHT.

63

there was a large gate, which was thrown open to admit

the bulls one

First of

one.

b}^

band struck up, and eight

all,

however, a squeaking or pedestrian

toreros,

bull-

and saluted some person of note who

fighters, entered,

sat

Just at that moment, the thunder-

opposite the large gate.

shower which had been gathering descended in torrents, and the people shouted to the toreros, " No moja se " " Don't get wet palisades,

!

"

on which they slipped in between the

and so put themselves under cover.

very well-made

active fellows, with

They were

extremely good legs,

which were seen to advantage, as they wore white

silk

stockings and knee-breeches embroidered with gold.

As soon

as the rain stopped there

was a loud shout, and

presently the large gate opened and in rushed a bull.

He

was a dark animal, almost black, and had evidently been goaded to madness, for he came charging head, and with his

the sharp points of his horns had been sawn the toreros

now ran nimbly up

tossing his

I could see, however, that

erect.

tail

in,

to the bull

and

off.

One

cloak on the ground before him, on wliich the animal a fmious charge, attempting to gore

he

at first

side,

rushes,

The

and adroitly whisking

fatigued the bull

now

in

this

it

torero dragged

from side to

by causing him to make

direction,

made

—not the man, of whom

took no notice, but the cloak.

this along rapidly,

of

thi*ew his red

now

in

that.

fruitless

This was

repeated again and again, until the animal seemed quite tu'ed.

The most

active of the toreros then

advanced with

a banderilla, or javelin entwined with fireworks in one hand,

and his cloak in the other. that the animal charged torero glided to one side,

He came

him headlong.

so close to the

buU

In a moment the

and drove the dart into the

bull,


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