Tbw'ards' the close of the! afterhbbiiw# >wehe entertained with the
exhibition Pf a hull fight, between tW aftiinalsr' the strangest add
iterCdst Of trie species I'eVer b'eneld. They were of a foreign bfded*
3pm a ihi&e ^ ^ d ^ ia f t oftfii^lSne-yM^d'ef^^mbuntainl, and in Bengali
are termed' Gyal. '^TKdir heads were- small, their decks thjck, their
chests prodigiously deep, and their fore legs temafkably short. The
"carcase lessened towards ‘the loins, which made the hind legs appear
much longer than the fore. Their colour was a dark brown,' alriiost
black. ■ They were led to ‘thejground between many' Booteeas, ‘well
secured, with strong ropes fastened to them : they struggled:violently,
as impatient of restraint, and their prominent eyes rolled with fury, as
if they were instructed in the fierce purpose, for which -they Iwefe
brought hither. Many men took post rolmd the held of battle, armed
with large bludgeons. The bulls were released omopposite sides.; and
the moment theyfelt their liberty, they tore up the ’turf with their
horns,-elevated the spines of their backs, and appeared animated with
the strongest'symptoms of rage. They did not at the first instant rush
together; but, turning sideways, eyed each other askance, all the while
making a slow circular advance, until' a very small dis tance ’divided
them V they then turned, opposing a full front, and .ran' impetuously^
their heads meeting together w ith an: astonishing- concussion.- The
horns, which constitute the'guard, aswell as’weapons, of offence, were
now’entahgled, and they maintained the Struggle, like wrestlers,; for
half an hour, with sufpnsihg exertions of stiength ; the ground .yielding'
to their heels as they pressed their brows, and altefnately.refreafced
and pushed forwards in the conflict. At length, as their strength dir
d|<|Ér a n .
im m ish^ .andjwhOTjyictp^ the
M B » , , Æ-he, weakésfMa.s^â|fiyen ||É|i|Æ y the
,Booteeas .armed with|!bfddge'ôhs ;t the ofheh hampered .with jdnésVwas
çgmhicted tp ..his 'Stÿdh ' highly, .in» ljgp.y i t. f and' Mb ni .jWkUIk , In this
manner commonly the,{b ^ leae^s.nj^^.’^ theyi C^ni^a&nfefk, they
never-sidfer,the strppgest^rdl to. pursuejhis. advantage,ypiLn.li would
terminate ,in foe ceHaip desteuctipn-of'hisantagof c t.'irm^fe dsoex-
ppsedvto Jh&’greatç^t danger, if he should happen to be thrdwn dpsWh
j n the conflict, Ajs .tjjex.^e tmined>j(>f; this,particdLu’ purpose, the
J^op^eas j^eçt jdidr utmpjSt endeavorms t o preserwé? thêrd for future
i - 5CJ^iwiljhght8^ ^ ^ ^ ^ p tfÇtaiwpei3it>§£fhe afnr which we
,pfepaoed:tojceturn, while time was a litile light : and w,iih aw op-j
servahce'pf the,usual ceremony, parted,from 'the .'R^j^^hi^deseencled
to Ours- quarters. t w,,,
■ jSome days .efapsed^before the Raja returned again tp the valley ;
when, a very busy season ensued, in making prcpanyons lor tnp
-grand festival in the pafôce. At the commencement. of tins, festival^ a
second -messenger arrived.from the Regent of Teshoo Loomboo. A
.long négociation withihim jtook place ; and as he was little acaMBÉfe
I to foreign intercourse, it is extraordinary what absurdities- and' prejudices
I had to .combat : at length, however, it ended iri his consenting
to .copdpct the same.pumbt i of persons, as upon a loimei occasion had
visited the Teshoo Lama. He could, on no .accoüntf adthit a third
gentleman of thérparty ; saying,. that his .'life might answer1 for such at
breach of trust.