Bullfighting on a rope - all over the island.

The bullfighting tradition on Terceira goes back to the 16th

century, due to the abundance of cattle at that time over

100,000 head, say the chroniclers - the fact that the

first settlers came from provinces where bullfighting was

deep-rooted and the later Castilian presence. This is why

bullfighting has been practised for centuries in

Terceira, the only island where bullfights are now held.

It is also why a unique technique has been developed

there, one that is perfectly adapted to the local

conditions, the skill of the bullfighters and the tastes

of the population. We are referring to the always merry

and lively "bullfighting on a rope", in which

the movements of the bull are conditioned by a rope held

by a group of men, formerly called mascarados da corda

(masked men of the rope), The bull, bred on the pastures

in the central region of line island and chosen for his

ability to follow figures and be cunning, has his horns

padded and is then let loose in the streets of the

parish, the windows and balconies of which are crowded

with people on that day. Fireworks are discharged and men

and bull immediately start running about, with steps that

are sometimes luckier than others. "Parasol lucky" is the

colourful name that has been given to one of the manoeuvres

that have been devised: it consists in putting the parasol up suddenly

in front of the bull and trying to avoid his horns in the

subsequent charge, while the men on the rope moderate its

momentum ;when they themselves are not dragged along

or deliberately give the bull a little more freedom to

liven up the show."Bullfighting on a rope" has

evolved with the passing of time, and one of its most

recent forms - although even it is already at least forty

years old - is that of bullfights by the sea, on beaches

and shallows where boats are run upon for repairs. In it,

everyone, including the bull, takes repeated bathes in

salt water in the midst of the laughs, shouts and hisses

of the spectators.

BULL ON A ROPE!

The Touch

Rope Keeper between Bulls

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