The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-09
THE BASQUE PEOPLE.

In TWO successive articles OF the "Bulletil
TIimestriel de la Societe Ramona" NJ
Eugene Cordier has given description o
some of the laws and customs prevailing
among the Basques, that singular race dwell
ing upon the slopes of the Western Pyre
nees, whose language and whose origin are
alike puzzle to antiquarians, and who, mus
tering in all about eight hundred aud forty
thousand souls, have contrived to maintain
what may fairly be called their
nationality distinct from both
france and Spain. The governments
of these countries have striven hard to extir-
pate the old Basque tongue, but though it is
at length gradually yielding, yet it has shown
strange and most obstinate vitality. Be-
sides this, the Basques possess a system of
legislation on such social subjects as the
succession to prope.-ty, parental and con-
Jugai rights, and the rig hts and powers of
women, of such completeness ana speciality
as is rarely to be found in Europ,;. Some
Ol tnese laws, and of the national custon,s
may De interesting to our readers ~,
"A arA chiefly indebted to Non.
sieur Michels interesting work, ''Le Pays
Basque"
The Basques are physically a fine race,
though goitre and cretinisme are by no means
unknown among them. AS a rule however,
the men are TALL brave, and active, and pos
sess considerable though uncultivated intel
ligence. Michel tells how Gonzalo Fernandez
de Cordova was provoked to exclaim that ''he
had rather have lions to guard than Bis
cayens to govern" and points out how the
energy and perfect health of the Basque pea
sant make him, even after hard days work,
scorn repose in the chimney nook, aud seek
instead recreation in dances, or athletic sports.
Bull-fghts are among their favorite divert
sions, but they are of the less cruel kind;
that is, the bull is not killed, but replaced,
when tired, by fresh one. Sometimes also,
bull, or even a COW is restrained by rope
and all comers are invited to try their skill
and agility, with just sufficient risk to render
the sport exciting. Sometimes a jar, with
q mouth much smaller than the interior,
is imbedded in the centre of the arena;
child placed in it, strikes the bull as he
approaches, and then ducks into his jar,
vanishing utterly into the ground, much to
the animals amazement as he makes his
rush. The Jeu de Paume, kind of tennis,
has long been passion with the Basques
The name of a first-rate player flies from
village to village, until it becomes house
hold word in the most remote mountain
cottage, At the time of the first French
revolution, one Perkain, who had taken
refuge in Spain, heard that his rival, ca
rutchet, was challenging players in France.
He could not resist the temptation. He
crossed the frontier, played, woa, and
escaped safe back to Spain, applauded and
assisted by thousands. To be either player
or spectator Of the game, a Basque will
willingly walk during the whole of the
preceding and following nights; soldiers
desert their regiments to be present; some
have unexpectedly appeared on the ap-
pointed day even from the banks of the
Danube. Under the empire, fourteen SOL
diers of one regiment left the army without
permission, journeyed to the distant st.
Etienne de Baigorry, played their o,ame ;;ii,,
were back On the banks of the Rhine in the
nick of time for the battle of Austerlitz.
Wagers are freely made upon the game, but
etiquette prescribes that no man shall back
player who does not speak his dialect. 1t is
not thought dishonorable in player to play
below his strength at first in order to tempt
the ring to put their money on his adversaries.
1t is fraudulent however, If he intend ulti-
mately to lose.
Dancing is another delight Here is an
amusing description, from Monsieur Michel,
of a genuine Basque evening. You, the
reader, are supposed to be a stranger, and to
find yourself near a mountain hamlet ON a
cold winter night. You resolve to ask for
hospitality at certain house, being sure,
from its ruddy glow, that merry company
are assembled within.
The door being opened, you find yourself
in a spacious kitchen. An enormous log
blazes on the hearth, around which a
cheerful party is assembled. On the right
sits an old man in an ancient wooden arm
chair, consecrated by the use of genera
tions. Near him sit other venerable men,
and behind is group of the Young men OF
the village. On the left are the women
and girls, spinning wool or the fine flax OF
he country. You are cordially received,
and the circle opens to admit you to the
warmest place by the roaring fire, but be-
ware of expecting any further deference
Whatever may be your rank in civilized
society, you are entitled here to no more
than the courtesy due to q welcome visitor
Soon begins catechism which your supe
rior knowledge is supposed to enable you to
answer. What news is stirring? What are
the morals, customs, religions, languages of
other countries? How must one figure to
oneself Paris, and Bordeaux, and so on
At first your replies are not received vita
out shade of suspicion thousand ques
tions are put, and small objections raised,
SO as to detect any inconsistencies in youl
replies. But you have answered honestly
your replies have been clear, serious, and
truthful, and so you come out unscathet
from the ordeal Then, indeed, you rise tc
the position of an honored guest Eact
vies with the other in making much o
you and in appreciating your merits; the
women and girls, for the first time, take par
in the questioning; the grey-beards plung,
into politics, and philosophize at their ease
the hours glide swiftly by, and only among
the group of young men, a certain restless
ness about the feet betrays their fear lest the
time for the mutchico, or Saut Basque, Should
be forgotten. But at length some jovia
mountaineer, whose white hairs have no
nf