Page:Our Sister Republic - Mexico.djvu/148

142 The cruel and thoroughly demoralizing amusement of bull-fighting, once the national sport of Mexico, has been prohibited in the capital and various States, but is still maintained in Guadalajara. Determined to see all that was to be seen of the manners and customs of the people at this out-of-the-way corner of the world, we naturally inquired after the bull-fight, and were gratified.(?) On Saturday, a long bill, magnificently printed in gold, on blue satin with a lace border, was sent to our house. As a curiosity, and a memento of a custom now, thank Heaven, fast passing away, I translated the bill as nearly literally as possible:

The company have arranged for this afternoon a selected and varied performance, which will proceed in the following order: 1. The music of the First Light Battalion, wisely directed by Prof. Santos Hernandez, will begin to play from 3, the best airs of his repertoire.

2. Five valiant bulls will be fought, from the well-known hacienda of Cuisillos, four of which will be done to the death.

3. After the death of the fourth bull, a young bull will undergo the Novillo de Cola, which exercise will be performed by the intelligent and agile coleador, Francisco Rodriguez.

4. Immediately thereafter another Novillo de Cola will be performed, and the bull be ridden by the celebrated bull-rider, Francisco Moya, and both the other coleadors. These exercises will be done at the fullest speed, and the coleador will throw down a bull and mount him with rapidity.

5. Other bulls will be fought by the company if the time will permit.

.—A box with six chairs, four dollars; seats in the