Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-19
THE BLOOD TAX IN THE rYRExEEs
For Murders Committed in 1873 the res.apts
Pay Money to Spanish Neigh bors-
. r.

Pay Money to Spanish Neighbors.
From the London Times
The Independent des Bases Pvrenees pub
fishes q very interesting description written BY
N. Alfred Cadier, French Protestant clergy
man at Pau, Of . ceremonial which he wit
messed short time ago on the frontier OF
France and spain. This consisted in the pay
ment of blood tax, and it appears that there
are two or three places in the Pyrenees where
the custom, founded upon the belief that "a
murder committed by the inhabitants Of q
village or canton upon those Of an adjoining
village or canton must forever remain bur-
den upon the descendants Of their descend
ants, Is still observed. Thus, about the mid
Ole OF the fourteenth century. the inhabitants
OF the valley OF Lavedan. having massacred the
defenseless residents of Aspe. were condemned
py the pope to pay perpetual tax of so soils,
paid up to the time Of the revolution. In the
thirteenth century. If not earlier q similar
crime was committed between the valleys OF
baretons. In French Navarro, and Roncal, in
Spanish Navarro.
The blood tax which the inhabitants Of the
former were ordered by the pope to discharge
Is paid still, tine ceremony taking place annually
on July IL In the mountains, about seven
hours march from 0sse. at the pass known as
La Peyre st. Martin. 1t is thus described by NJ
oea'er: "A crowd Of people is to be seen max
ing their way to the rendezvous. The shep-
herds OF the Baretons valley. with their red
waistcoats interspersed with dark threads. the
mayors and delegates of the villages OF Arctic.
Laune, Aramlts and Issor, the foresters of the
noun tain, the custom house officers without
their guns. the clergy, represented by the
priest of st. Engrace and two curates and q
Few English tourists from Osse helped to make
up this singular assembly. When We reached
the narrow stone which marks off the frontier.
with the name St. Martin inscribed upon the
two sides of it in French and Spanish. We
found ourselves face to face with the Spaniards,
who formed an imposing group.
FIRST was the alcalde of Isaba, who was to
act the part of lord chief justice. He was wear
ing black robe bordered with red, and large
coiiarette By way Of bands, while he carried in
his hand the wand of justice. in the shape of a
black stick, with a silver knob. The alcaldes
OF three or four other Spanish villages were
similarly attired. and they we're accompanied
by numerous suite made up of delegates from
the general junta of the valley of Roncal, the
notary. the veterinarian and others, the escort
consisting of seven or eight armed carrabineros
and guards, while in the rear were a number of
bourriqueros, who had come in the hope of
selling the skins Of wine with which their
donkeys were loaded.
1T was about 9 am. when the ceremonial
which had been observed without interruption
since 1875, commenced by the French mayors
donning their tricolor scarf, and by the Span
lsh slcaldes advancing toward the frontier
stone, accompanied by a herald bearing a
lance on which was painted red flame, the
symbol Of justice. The two parties having
halted at distance of about twenty feet from
their respective frontiers, the herald substi-
tutes for his red flame u white one. which is
the symbol Of pacific intentions. and the
aicalde OF lsaba exclaims in Spanish. Do you
wish for peace? To this the French mayors
reply in the affirmative also speaking in span
ish, and. In order to testify to the sincerity of
their Intentions, their herald lays down his
lance upon the top Of the stone in the direction
OF the frontier. whereupon the Spanish herald
comes and inserts his lance into the French
SOIL resting the shaft against the stone so as to
form cross with the French lance. The MAYOR
OF Arctic then comes and lays his hand upon
the cross SO formed, Spanish alcalde places
his right hand upon that of the Frenchman and
the other mayors and alcaldes do the same
alternately.
Last Of all the alcalde Of Isaba steps for
ward and. lifting his wand of justice over the
pile OF hands, pronounces the oath, which all
swear to keep. After this oath has been taken
the aicaide OF Isaba exclaims three times, 'Paz
daraus' (peace In the future). Peace is thus
anew concluded. and to ratify their having
given up all idea Of vengeance the men of
Roncal order the escort TO discharge their
guns in the direction of France. Then comes
the reception of the blood tax, which used to
consist of three perfectly white mares but
owing to the difficulty of getting them exactly
alike three white heifers have now been sub
stituted for them. The three heifers presented
this year were worth about f23, which is a
large sum for the district and after the Roncal
notary had drawn up a process verbal, which
was signed all round, repast was served at
the expense of the Spaniards, toasts being pro-
posed in honor Of Spain, France and England,
the Introduction Of England being due to the
presence of several British visitors. After the
repast was over dancing followed, and we then
said goodbye till next year."