country are occupied by growing timber; but within its bounds large open spaces exist which serve for pasturages, and occasionally a farm, a vineyard, or an olive grove may be seen struggling, as it were, for existence amidst the vast solitudes. But though occasional glimpses of culture appear, they are far too few and far between to offer any serious check to the increase and independence of the herds which roam around them undisturbed. It was in this forest that I witnessed for the first time the method of capturing the wild bulls. I had received intimation that the village of Alcoxete, on the Tagus, was to be the scene of a bull fight, and that the villagers for many miles round were invited to join in the hunt, which was to take place on the following day; I accordingly crossed the river in company of about twenty persons, mostly military, each being provided with a long pole, having a small spike fixed in one end, and mounted as inclination or ability suited. When we arrived on the opposite bank, a little before daybreak, we found between two hundred and fifty and three hundred persons assembled, some mounted on different sorts of quadrupeds, from the noble Andalusian horse to the humble hack donkey, and very many on foot. As soon as daylight began to appear we marched off towards the forest. The morning was peculiarly fine, and the interest of the beautiful scenery was heightened by the varied costumes of the hunters. As soon as we had advanced some distance into the wood. we halted for the purpose of refreshment, before the arduous and somewhat perilous duties of the day began. After a hasty meal we divided into two parties, one

stretching in a long line to the right and the other to the left. They had not advanced far in this manner before they fell in with a herd of cattle having twelve bulls with it, which no sooner descried us than they bounded off with the speed of lightning. The sport had now began; we put our horses to the utmost speed, threading our way amongst the tall pine trees as well as we could, and endeavoring by wild cries to drive the bulls towards the other party. At length, after about an hour's chase, some half dozen of us who were better mounted than the rest came up with them, and commenced the attack with long poles. The manner was this: one person riding at full speed gave the bull nearest him a sharp prick with the goad, which it no sooner felt than it gave chase; another horseman then coming up attacked it on the other side, when, leaving the first assailant, it turned upon the second; he in like manner was rescued by a third, and so on. The attention of the infuriated animal thus distracted prevented his escape, and gave time for the others to come up. The bulls were thus at length separated from the herd.

A sufficient number having arrived to form a circle around them, we commenced operation's for the purpose of driving them towards the town; all the skill of the riders was now necessary, and all the activity possessed by both man and horse, to keep clear from the pointed horns which on every side were directed against him, as well as to prevent the herd from breaking through the living net with which it was surrounded. This was perhaps the most difficult part, and attained by keeping each bull separately engaged, and thus preventing united ac

tion; for what line was sufficient, armed as we were, to resist the simultaneous rush of these most powerful ani mals. The continued activity and exertion requisite had knocked up many of the poor jades who had started in the morning, and the circle became smaller and smaller as the day advanced; several, too, had been carried off severely gored and wounded by the horns and feet of the bulls. I, however, and the party with whom I started, were resolved to see the conclusion, and redoubling our efforts we at length, about four o'clock in the afternoon, succeeded in driving them into an inclosure where were a number of oxen, all at one time wild, with bell, quietly grazing. Here they were kept till required for the next day's sport.