thinking that I could not fail to light upon some large cities or towns. At length, after the proceeding of many leagues, and finding that nothing new presented itself, and that the coast was leading me northwards (which I wished to avoid, because the winter had already set in, and it was my intention to move southwards; and because moreover the winds were contrary), I resolved not to wait for a change in the weather, but to return to a certain harbor which I had remarked, and from which I sent two men ashore to ascertain whether there was any king or large cities in that part. They journeyed for three days, and found countless small hamlets, with numberless inhabitants, but with nothing like order; they therefore returned. In the meantime I had learned from some other Indians, whom I had seized, that this land was certainly an island; accordingly, I followed the coast eastward for a distance of 107 leagues, where it ended in a cape. From this cape I saw another island to the eastward, at a distance of eighteen leagues from the former, to which I gave the name of La Espanola. Thither I went and followed its northern coast (just the same as I had done with the coast of Juana), 118 full miles due east. This island, like all others, is extraordinarily large, and this one extremely so. In it are many seaports, with which none that I know in Christendom can bear comparison, so good and capacious that it is a wonder to see. The lands are high, and there are many lofty mountains, with which the islands of Teneriffe cannot be compared. They are all most beautiful, of a thousand different shapes, accessible, and covered with trees of a thousand kinds, of such great height that they seem to reach the skies. I am told that the trees never lose their foliage, and I can well understand it, for I observed that they were as green and luxuriant as in Spain in the month of May. Some were in bloom, others bearing fruit, and others otherwise, according to their nature. The nightingale was singing, as well as other little birds of a thousand different kinds, and that in November, the month in which I was roaming amongst them. There are palm trees of six or eight kinds, wonderful in their beautiful variety; but this is the case with all other trees and fruits and grasses. It contains extraordinary pine groves and very extensive plains. There is also honey and a great variety of birds, and many different kinds of fruits. In the interior there are many mines of metals, and a population innumerable."

The first attempt to colonize Cuba was made by Diego Columbus (son of the discoverer) and Diego Velasquez. They made their first

settlement at Boracoa, which became the capital. In 1522 the capital was moved to Santiago de Cuba and in 1589 to Havana.

In 1538 a French privateer bombarded Havana and reduced the city to ashes, which led the Governor General, Fernando de Soto, to erect the Castillo de la Fuerza (strong fortress), which still stands. When De Soto left Cuba for Florida he placed the government in the hands of Dona Isabel de Boabdillo.

In 1547 Don Antonio de Chavez became Governor, and inaugurated many improvements. Among them he gave the city of Havana a water supply system for the first time in its history.

The removal of the capital from Santiago to Havana was due largely to the fact that Gonzales Perez de Angulo, who was appointed Governor General of the island in 1549, took up his residence in Havana instead of Santiago, and this precedent being followed by some of his successors the change was naturally brought about.

For a year Cuba was British property. This was from July, 1762, to July, 1763. With a fleet of 37 ships under Admiral Pococke, and 150 transports with 10,000 men under Lord Albemarle, reinforced by 4,000 regulars from New York, the city was captured after a stubborn defense in which heat and disease fought on the side of the Spaniards. Five thousand soldiers and 3,000 sailors were ill at one time. By the terms of the treaty of peace the island was restored to Spain on July 7, 1763.

The frequent insurrections in the islands were no doubt aided by filibustering expeditions from the United States, which the government was unable to suppress. This caused constant irritation between the two governments, and in 1873 almost led to war.

On October 31 of that year, the Virginius, an American ship, was captured near Jamaica by the Spanish Steamer Tornado. She was apprehended as a filibusterer, and Captain Frye and fifty-two of the crew were stood against a wall and shot. A British ship of war, the Niobe, appeared opportunely upon the scene and prevented the massacre of the remaining 130 of the crew.

Although the affair was settled through the channels of diplomacy, a bitter sentiment was created against Spain, which continued with more or less intensity until it found vent in the recent hostilities.

It is a peculiar coincidence that the invasion of Cuba and place of ultimate surrender of the islands to Americans should have been at the exact place where the Virginius' crew was massacred-Santiago.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

BULL FIGHTING IN SPAIN.

BRUTAL EXHIBITION CHARACTERISTIC OF SPANISH CRUELTY-ATTEMPTS TO RAISE MONEY TO CONDUCT THE WAR THROUGH THIS NATIONAL SPORTCOMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF A

B

BULL FIGHT.

ULL fighting is a form of entertainment that would seem to have little to do with the subject of war, and yet bull fights were a feature of the late war between the United States and Spain, and probably the only war of which they properly constitute a part of its history.

Spain was practically a bankrupt nation at the beginning of the war, and as hostilities progressed she was put to desperate straits to raise money to carry on the combat. The people were taxed to their utmost limit. So it was useless to expect any considerable revenue from increased taxation.

Then some patriotic Spaniard suggested that special bull fights be given and the proceeds be turned over to the government to prosecute the war with the United States. Accordingly several such events were held and netted a considerable sum.

Madrid, the Spanish capital, presents no gayer scene than on the occasion of a bull fight. The exhibitions are held in an immense circular arena, and are witnessed by all classes, from the Queen Regent to the beggar upon the street corner. Royalty, the nobility, wealth and fashion have their private boxes just as rich Americans do at the theater, while the rabble sits upon tiers of seats arranged one above the other as they are at a circus. The arena, or bull ring, is enclosed by a fence about six feet high, leaving a sort of alley-way between it and a yet higher fence in front of the space reserved for spectators. It often happens that the bull in his furious charges after his tormentor leaps the first fence, in which case he can be driven back into the ring through any one of the numerous gates built therein. The fence more often is used by the torero, who, when hard pressed, leaps over it for safety.

At any bull fight one may see all the principal officials, from Cabinet Ministers down to officers of the municipality and men prominent in every walk of life. But the women make the fairest and gayest picture, for they are arrayed in their best finery of many colors, and the excitement lends additional vivacity to their conduct.

The Alguazils, or police officers, enter and clear the ring of fruitvenders and stragglers. A trumpet is blown, and the vast audience which has gathered in groups chatting and displaying impatience for the exhibition to begin, becomes seated. Opposite the royal box a door flies open and the procession of toreros enter. In the lead march the espadas or matadores, the men who kill the bull after he has been goaded to frenzy. They are the real bull fighters and the others are their assistants.

The profession of matador is an enviable one from a Spanish standpoint, for the successful matador wins both fame and fortune. All the ladies are supposed to be in love with him, and most of them really are, while his profits from a single fight vary from $10,000 to $20,000. His fame spreads throughout Spain, and he is the object of every courtesy and attention. Many Spanish matadores have accumulated immense fortunes. Behind the matadores march the banderilleros. These are armed with steel darts tipped with a barb. The darts are gaily decorated with bits of ribbon, colored paper and tinsel. When the dart pierces the flesh of the bull the barb on the point prevents it from falling or being pulled out, and with every motion of the animal it tears the flesh and makes an aggravating wound. If the barb fails to exasperate the animal sufficiently a fulminating material is sometimes attached to the point. This explodes when it strikes the bull and burns him to the quick.

The capadores come next, each with a large capa (cape or cloak) These are used to blind the bull, thus assisting the banderillero to escape after he has thrown his darts.

Last of all are the picadores. They are mounted lancers, and the horses they ride are blindfolded so that they may not be terrorized by the bull and may be the better controlled when the picador endeavors to pierce the animal with his lance. The breeches they wear are lined with thin strips of iron to protect the legs of the rider against the horns of the bull should he succeed in goring the horse, which he does as often as not.

Directly behind the espadas or matadores march their servants, for each of these celebrities has his own valet who attends him in the ring as well as out of it. The servants carry their master's cloaks, in which the bull fighter wraps himself until it comes his turn to despatch the bull.

The procession marches across the arena and halts before the royal box. In the adjoining box sits the Alcalde, the master of ceremonies, and to him a request is made for the key with which to unlock the cells containing the bellowing bulls already goaded to anger by being tormented by attendants. The Alcalde tosses down the key and the official who has caught it proceeds to the door of one of the cells and throws it wide open.

There is a grand flourish of trumpets and the angry bull comes bounding into the arena, his eyes red with anger and his head shaking with wrath. He stops and glares at the toreros and paws the ground, throwing the tan bark high in the air. It is a peculiarity of these bulls that they either select the horsemen as the special objects of their hatred and pursue them throughout the fight, or else they will ignore the horsemen entirely and concentrate all their maddened energy upon the banderilleros.

In a recent fight graphically described it happened that the bull charged upon a picador. The picador plunged his lance into the animal's shoulders, but was unable to hold him at bay. The bull buried his horns in the horse's barrel and disemboweled him, bringing horse and rider to the ground. The capadores quickly threw their cloaks over the bull's head and tantalized him until he was completely disconcerted, and charged aimlessly about the ring. Then came the most disgusting and brutal part of the exhibition. The horse had not been killed, although mortally wounded. The wound was plugged up and another picador put upon his back.

Sometimes it happens that the horses, scenting the bulls, although they cannot see them, will be so terror-stricken that they will rear upon their hind legs. This is the bull's opportunity, and he is quick to take advantage of it. Plunging his horns into the horse he lifts him clear from the ground, carries him a moment and tosses him to the earthdead, or too badly crippled to rise. Sometimes as many as a dozen horses are slain in an encounter with one bull.