Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/177

 12 s. in. MARCH 3, i9i7.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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breasts are covered with rosaries and amulets. There is or was a chapel adjoining the Seville amphitheatre where the altar was lighted up during a bull-fight. The bull-fighter, if killed in the arena, is shut out of the churchyard. To obviate this a priest is always in attendance with the consecrated Host. The blood of a newly killed bull is drunk by Spaniards in the hope of refreshing a jaded constitution. Romans drank the blood of gladiators to cure the epilepsy. Celsus remarked that the remedy was worse than the disease !

In a Spanish bull-fight nothing is econo- mized but the horses. The horses are lean and aged, and it has been remarked that there is not one of them but is fit only for the dog kennel of an English squire, or the oarriage of a French peer. If it is asked concerning a wounded horse why he is not killed at once, the reply comes " he only osts six dollars." Reports of bull-fights in Spanish papers contain such statements as " thirteen horses were killed the weather mild and serene." I find it pointed out by one authority that it is

-"in truth a piteous sight to see poor mangled horses treading out their entrails. In the pagan sacrifices the quivering entrails trembling with life proved the most propitious omens."

With reference to that part of the query which relates to horses, it must be remem- bered that the Greeks associated Death with the horse. In the Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. xviii. (1898), the subject of this association is discussed learnedly by Mr. A. W. Verrall, and I would advise the -querist to read the article.

Much valuable information as to sacri- ficial rites in connexion with the horse may be found scattered through the volumes of the last edition of Sir James F razor's book
 * The Golden Bough.'

There are three bibliographical books which deal with bull-fighting, and these are :

'Bibliografia de la Tauromaquia,' by Luis Carmena y Millan. Madrid, 1883.

' Tauromaquia. Apuntes Bibliograficos.' Apen- dice a la Bibliografia de la Tauromaquia. Madrid, 1888.

'Uatalogo de la Biblioteca Taurina de Luis Carmena y Millan.' Madrid, 1903. None of these contains references to English books on the subject. I propose to give only a few, and those such as I think may assist principally.

Ford's ' Handbook for Spain,' 1845 edition, is one of the most valuable books ever written in English upon Spain. From p. 177 onwards will be found a full account of a bull-fight. The same writer's ' Gather-

ings from Spain,' chapters xxi. and xxii., will supplement the ' Handbook.' In October, 1838, a very remarkable historical and descriptive article on ' Bull- fights ' appeared in The Quarterly Review. For the historical side of the subject I doubt if there is any- thing better written. There are also O'Shea's ' Romantic Spain,' vol. i. chap. x. ; and Sienkiewicz's ' Story of a Bull-fight,' which is highly descriptive, and will be found in the volume entitled ' Sielanka and other Stories.' Edgar Saltus attempted the same thing in ' Mr. Incoul's Misadventure.' In this story he describes a bull-fight at San Sebastian. In the way of pictures of bull-fights there is the work of Goya, ' La Taureaumachie,' containing forty fine illus- trations. Richard Ford wrote preliminary explanations, &c., to Lake Price's ' Tauro- machia, or the bull-fights of Spain, illus- trated by twenty-six plates representing the most remarkable incidents and scenes in the arenas of Madrid, Seville, and Cadiz,' 1852. Another volume containing ninety-six sketches of bull-fights was issued at Gibral- tar in 1886. The second edition of Pepe Illo's book is illustrated with excellent engravings. A. L. HUMPHREYS.

187 Piccadilly, W.

THE DOMINICAN ORDER (12 S. ii. 510 ; iii. 31, 114). With regard to the apposite note quoted by MR. UDAL from Fosbroke, I should be interested to know what exactly is intended by " after Complin till Tierce, praying 100 or 200 times a day." Between the hours of Compline and Tierce, Matins, Lauds, and Prime with the Martyrology are said. Does this " 100 or 200 times " refer to the recitation of the Rosary, or to private devotions ? Castiglio, describing the Do- minican religious of the thirteenth century, tells us that Compline was their favourite hour, and that all the night through the church was never empty, whilst the brethren enjoyed the sweets of uninterrupted silence and devotion. In the three English-speak- ing Provinces,* owing to the rudeness of the climate and stress of active work, the mid- night office is anticipated or else postponed, so that the sleep may remain unbroken. Matins and Lauds are said either about 9 P.M. or 4 A.M., according to local custom and the season of the year.

The ' Salve Regina,' if not Dominican in origin, has become so linked with the history of the Order as to be regarded as peculiarly its own. From the very earliest days it was


 * England, Ireland, and the United States.