BULL FIGHTING IN LIMA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5246, 16 January 1878, Page 3

BULL FIGHTING IN LIMA.

A correspondent in Lima, South America, sends the following account of the “ amusement" of bull fighting as carried on in that place ;—Having paid the cnlmda , I enter, and find myself a unit among 7000 others, for, except that of Madrid, this is the largest ring in the world. Resembling an ancient amphitheatre, or a modern circus, the bull ring has two large doors at opposite sides. Through one the living animal is admitted, and out by the other his defunct carcase is dragged. Small recesses round the aides serve for shelters to the bull-baiter when hal'd pressed ; while in the centre half a dozen upright poles give him the opportunity of dodging his adversary. The national hymn is played, then a ilonri h of trumpets is giv en, and the gates are flung open, and out rushes a noble English-bred bull, his bend crouched down, his eyes staring wildly, and his back crackling with squibs. He charges first full tilt at the cavaliero or horseman, who is seated on a wiry little animal, a spear in his hand, and a scarlet cloak trailing over his shoulder. The horse flinches not, no not even when the bull’s horn is almost under his side, till the rider touches him with the spur ; he then swerves, and the bull tears past, too impetuous to turn about in time to pursue. Then the AhandcrUlo or dart-bearer’s turn arrives, he stands facing the infuriated animal, the sharp darts in his bauds ; the bull charging him, ho hops nimbly aside, and the faster ttie bull has come, the deeper have sunk in his shoulders those barbed tormentors. In his fierce anger the brute now makes for a Picador, of whom there are about a seore in the ring, tall, muscular, light and supple men, made for nimbleness, and through.severalgenorations perfected for this work. It is not till now that the complete adaptibility of that peculiar and striking dress is comprehended, for did that shoe slip, or tliat tunic’s sleeve catch on anything, certain death would follow. Gathering up his orange enpa, the immediate cause of the, hull’s wrath, the Picador makes right across: the ring, never looking behind at his maddened pursuer ; one falsa step and the superior will fall a helpless mass from the hornfj of the infuriated animal. The women shriek, the men cheer,. the baud plays, and, the hard-pressed fighter bounds like a cat up the front of the palisades,, and falls caressed, and petted among the gentle ones who always frequent the front : seats, and whose gifts of roses and dalccs seem amply to reward the daring Picador for his race for' life. ; But now the bull must die 1 The Matador stands .forth, a bright steel rapier in.his‘right hand, and a bright scarlet cloak in his left. On'to his death comes cl toro, infuriated with pain and enraged with teasing ; ho thinks this cool man at least is at his mercy, be sees not the glittering steel, nor does he know the meaning of that steadfast gaze and firmly planted foot. His head is down, in all the pride of headstrong strength and sheer brute force he charges. The thin sword of the man is held forth, the blade enters between the shoulders, the spinal cord is severed, and

what a moment before was a powerful, beautiful, and wonderfully-constructed living organism, is now a mass of quivering, inanimate flesh at the feet of the generally admitted to be superior species, who has thus, without having visibly shed his blood, laid him low. The crowd hurrah,' the carcase is tackled to six horses, and disappears through the door for the dead. A new animal comes on the scene, the programme repeats itself, but the description of one slaughter suffices. No doubt the excitement is great at the time, and nottillafter does there come over one a sense of righteous horror, and a mental conclusion that these exhibitions are vicious, iniurious to the morals, and generating a love for blood —in fact, a relic of Moorish barbarism.