First came the coaches of the cavaliers, who were to encounter the bulls; these coaches were four in number, of a singular make, with glasses at the ends, and quite open at the sides: the cavaliers were placed at the doors of their coaches; and bowed to the people in the balconies as they passed round the square. They were accompanied by their sponsors, the dukes of Ossuna, Banos, Arcos, and Medina Cæli. Before the royal family came a company of halberdiers, followed by seven or eight of the king's coaches, preceding his coach of state, which was extremely rich, with red and gold ornaments, and beautiful painted pannels. Then came a coach with some of the great officers; and next came the king and queen in a very sumptuous coach of blue, with all the ornaments of massive silver, and a crown at the top the trappings of the horses were likewise silver, with large white plumes. They were followed by the coaches of the prince of Asturias, the two infantas, and don Lewis, with their attendants.

The king and queen seated themselves oppposite to the balcony of the English ambassador, in which our author sat; they were in a gilt balcony, with a canopy and curtains of scarlet and gold. On the right hand of the king's balcony were placed the rest of the royal family; and on the left the gentlemen of the bed-chamber in a row, all dressed in a very fine uniform of blue and red, richly embroidered with gold. The halberdiers marched from the king's balcony, which was in the centre of one side, and forming themselves into two lines fronting different ways, cleared the square of the crowd, who retired into the scaffolds erected for them; after which the halberdiers formed themselves into a line before the scaffold under the king's balcony. Then two companies of boys, dressed in an uniform, with caps and red taffety jackets, came with buckets of water in their hands, and watered the stage as they crossed over it to the opposite side: the six chief alguazils of the city then appeared, mounted on fine horses, covered with trap. pings; they were dressed in the old Spanish habit, black, with slashed sleeves, great white flowing wigs, and hats with plumes of different coloured feathers: these magistrates advanced towards the king's balcony, under which they remained the whole time to receive his orders, except when they were frightened from their post by the bulls.

The troops belonging to the cavaliers next ascended the stage in four large companies, dressed in silk Moorish liveries, richly and elegantly ornamented with lace and embroidery: these first bowed

to the king's balcony, and then went in procession round the square: the elegant singularity of their uniforms produced a very pleasing effect. After them came the four knights in the old Spa. nish dress, with plumes in their hats, mounted on fine horses: each held in his hand a slender lance, and was attended by two men on foot dressed in light silk of the colour of his livery, with cloaks of the same; these never forsake his side, and are his principal de. fence. The cavaliers then disposed themselves for the encounter, the first placing himself opposite to the door of the place where the bulls were kept, and the other at some distance behind him.

At a signal given by the king the doors opened, and the bull ap peared, to the sound of martial music, and the loud acclamations of the people, when seeing one of the attendants of the first cavalier spreading his cloak before him, he aimed directly at him; but the man easily avoided him, and gave his master the opportunity of breaking his spear in the bull's neck. In the same manner the bull was tempted to engage the other cavaliers, and always with the same success, till having received the wounds with their lances, he was encountered by the other men on foot; who, after main. taining a sportive conflict with incredible agility as long as they thought proper, easily put an end to him by thrusting a sword either into his neck or side, which brought him to the ground, and then they finished him at once, by striking a dagger, or sword, behind his horns into the spine, which is always immediate death. After this the bull is hurried off by mules, finely adorned with trappings.

After the knights were sufficiently tired with these exploits, the king gave them leave to retire; bulls were then let out, one at a time, from another door; these were of a more furious nature, and were encountered entirely by men on foot, who were so far from fearing their rage, that they strove to increase it, by darting at their necks, and other parts, little barbed darts orna. mented with bunches of paper; some of which were filled with gun-powder, and were no sooner fastened to the hull than they went off like serpents. Nothing can be imagined more tormenting than these darts; but the amazing dexterity with which they are thrown, diverts the attention from its cruelty. They also dress up goats' skins, blown up with wind, and increase the fury of the bull by placing them before him, which makes a very ridiculous part of the entertainment. Many of the bulls, however, would not attack them; and one of the most furious that did, shewed

more fear in that onset, than in encountering his most sturdy antagonist. They also baited one bull with dogs, and these animals shewed as much courage as any of the bull-dogs in England.

"My apprehensions," says our author, "were at first prin. cipally excited for the men on foot; but the knights are in much more danger, their horses being too full of fire to be exactly governed; they cannot therefore so well avoid the aim, and are li able to be every moment overthrown, with their horses, if their attendants by their side do not assist them. Two beautiful horses were gored; one of which was overthrown with his rider, but fortunately the man received no hurt from his fall. The courage of these horses is so great, that they have been often known to ad. vance towards the bull, when their bowels were trailing on the ground."

The bull-feast in the Plaça Mayor is never exhibited but upon some extraordinary occasion, as the accession or marriage of their kings, and is attended with very great expence, both to the king and the city. But there is a theatre built without the walls, where there are bull-feasts every fortnight, which to connoisseurs are greatly preferred to the others, the bulls being more furious, and the danger greater to those who fight them; but there is little dif. ference in their manner of engaging them.

SECTION IX.

Horse.

Equus caballus. Linn.

[Pennant. Payne.

THIS well known and most useful animal is cultivated with care in most parts of the earth; but is found in its natural state in the de serts of Great Tartary; sometimes in Africa: timid, swift, vigilant; moves in flocks, having a leader before, with his ears thrown forwards, and a centinel behind, with his ears bent back, to guard against surprise both ways. It varies much in size and colour; feeds on grain and herbage; generous, proud, spirited; drives away flies and insects with its tail; carefully guards its hind parts; calls after its companion by neighing; and scratches its shoulder with its teeth; rolls itself when hot; is without gall-bladder, but has large gall ducts to answer the purpose; does not vomit or eructate; its dung heats and smokes; changes its fore-teeth in the second, third,