THE BASQUES

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 March 1930, Page 10

THE BASQUES

AN INTERESTING RACE

The Basques are somewhat small in stature; they number about hall a, million; their country lies between the Adour River at Bayonne and the province of Burgos, in Spain, coming out to the sea a little beneath Bilbao. Their territory to-day comprises seven provinces—three in I* rance and four in Spain. Such well-known towns us Biarritz and Bayonne, in France, and San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Pamplova. in Spain, are situated in the Basque country. The entire area is known in Basque as EuskalHerria, and that these people regard themselves as a national unit, despite their residence under two flags, is evidenced by their proverb, which is also their national trade mark, Zakpiakbat (seven provinces one). The Basques are agriculturists, fayoured with fertile land and a delighttul climate. Even to-day anyone may see them use the wooden plough and the wooden, solid-wheeled cart iliawn by oxen; while a sturdy Basque in front, wearing a beret and home-made alpargatas, is a familiar sight. The origin of the race has puzzled ethnologists to such a degree that experts seem to regard the matter as defying solution. The tradition among the' people themselves is that they once inhabited a tract of laud in what is now the Bay of Biscay; that the major portion of their country was suddenly submerged, leaving the, suivivors on what is now the coast of France and Spain. Geologists do not altogether smile at this tradition. A second Basque tradition is that they were the first people to colonise the British Isles. This theory is not irreconcilable with what the eiudite say of the early inhabitants of Ireland and Wales. Most historians now agree that the early inhabitants of these countries were of Iberian and Germanic origin, and that in Ireland at least these peoples were reduced to helotry by Celtic-speaking Germanic. tribes. The Iberian or Basque, type undoubtedly predominates in Wales. The same type is also found in Ireland, but there it would seem that the Teutonic type is largely predominant. Even to-day certain non-Celtic words are found in Gaelic which can be traced to Basque, such as arthare ( a horn) and ainnir (a maiden), and there are constructions in Gaelic similar to those found in Basque. There are seven dialects in Basque, with at least two well-defined main streams of language. The Basque language is as great a problem as that provided by the origin of the people. It is pre-Aryan, and has no affinity with any known tongue, even with Sanskrit. Efforts have been made to connect it with the Ural-Altaique family of languages, and certain Indian dialects of North America, but beyond certain superficial resemblances common to all dialects nothing definite has been ascertained. In most languages a. relationship can usually be traced in the numerals but the Basque numerals speak for themselves—bat (one), biga (two), hirur (three), laur (four)., bortz (live), sei (six)., zazpi (-seven), ziort-zi- (eight), berteratzi (nine), hamar (ten). Certain philologists argue that Basque, Euskara, as it is called, is a neolithic or Stone Age tongue. This theory is based on the fact that the names of all cutting instruments in Basque are formed with the noun aitz, which means a hard stone, as, for example, aitz-urr, tearing stone (pick), and aitz-to (little stone or knife).

In church- the women always occupy a position apart from the men. The Basque attitude towards women is chivalrous, but they display little or- no demonstrative affection. The woman’s word is final in everything appertaining to her proper domain, despite the proverb Senhaur duen-ak yaun badu (She who has a husband has a lord). The Basque dance is a vigorous step dance, always danced by men, except in the case of the arinarin and the fandango, in which women join, but the couples never touch. Their dance music is very bright. The dancers sing a„nd click castanets as they dance. At the end of each verse all join in the famous Irintzi, or cry, which characterises the Basque song—

Nere maite polita, Donostian dago, Izarra ren giza da neretzat betiko. (My beautiful love is in Sebastian, she is like a star to me, a star which is mine).

These dances are still danced, and the Basque movement of the last few years has made them popular, especially with tourists, -who flock to the Basque festivals at Bayonne and Biarritz, where songs, dances, and recitations are given in the open. Among the Basques, both men and women have colour in theii’ face, an unusual feature in this quarter, where most people are either olive or dark skinned. The women lack the wonderful beauty of the Southern Spanish women, but they are comely and intelligent. Like the Spaniards the Basques are extremely courteous to strangers, and hospitable and generous to a fault. The Basque Christian name is the same as that common among the Spaniards, but their surnames seem remarkable to a foreigner.

Emigration goes on to Argentina and Montevideo, but the emigrant never forgets the old home, and takes sufficient interest in his Basque origin to maintain in South America a few little journals in Basque. The Basques are the proudest people in Spain, and enjoyed this reputation even before they gave to the world Ignatius Loyola or Francis Borgia. They never boast of their ancient lineage, because it is lost in the twilight of fable.

As a race they are most stubborn when attacked. Roland, the epic hero of France, met his death at their hands in the historic plains of Roncesvalles. When fighting as guerillas against Junot’s troops during the Peninsula war, they showed a capacity for ferocity justifiable only when the conduct of the French towards their women folk is considered. Later the Basques were Carlists to a man, and when the legitimists suffered defeat- lost their fueros or ancient franchises. To-day they are hostile to Madrid. They contend that their ancient fueros should be re-established, but Ihe fuero implies an essentially tribal condition not workable to-day. Local councils with extended powers might go far to meet their claims, but the Madrid Government ; is utterly opposed to self-determination or regionalism, so it is not likely that there will be any change in the Basque position. Another spu-rce of contention with Spain concerns the Basque language. Spain is doing its utmost to kill that

language, and Basque is not taught in the schools. In France, Basque is fostered, but the anti-Basque movement is more insidious there, and has done more harm to the language under the guise of friendship than more direct methods have done in Spain. Basque propagandists never weary of pointing out England’s encouragement and generosity towards the native language in Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish highlands. But British tolerance in such matters is unknown on the Continent.

Notwithstanding Spain’s neutrality during the war, many Basques from the Spanish provinces crossed the border and joined the French army. Australian tourists to Europe would be well advised to spend a. few weeks at least amongst these splendid people. They will be amply repaid, for nowhere else will be found a people of such natural charm, nor a race that has still kept in modern times so much of the pristine simplicity and customs of ancient, days.