After 18 bullfightless years, Guatemalans were discovering that the revival of the ancient Spanish sport was not to be achieved in a day or in weeks. Guatemala's torrential rains gave the bulls rheumatism. The long waits for a clear afternoon made the toreros neurotic. Their performance in the ring was tentative, and Guatemalans complained.

Last week the exhibition was so shabby that an angry crowd showered bulls and bullfighters with bottles and pillows. Stung into closer scrutiny, the fight judges noted fresh blood on one bull even as he "charged" into the ring. Investigation revealed that handlers of the cowardly...