themfelves, being obliged to this condefcenfion from the
natural fpirit, and pride of the people, added to their
education and notions of freedom. Unaccuitomed to
brook the lead fcorn, or to comply with that fubmiifive
behaviour fo ufual from the poor to the rich, in more refined
and opulent kingdoms ; yet the common proverb
o f Caftile, Pobrez-ano esvileza, “ Poverty is not a blemilh,”
has no fway here, for fu chare their notions of labour,
and induftry, that their fpirit makes them confider it, as
an indignity to beg ; and though the women are generally
charitable, which cannot fail to attrail mendicants,
yet thefe are moil commonly ilrangers.
The country people wear brogues, not unlike thofe of
the highlands of Scotland, tied up with great neatnefs,
being the moll ufeful for a ilippery and mountainous
country. When they are not bufy in the fields, they
walk with a itaff taller than themfelves, which ferves
them to vault over gullies, and is an excellent weapon in
cafe of aflault, with which they will baffle the moil dextrous
fwordfmen ; they wear cloaks in the winter,- the
pipe is conftantly in the mouth, as well for pleafure as
from a notion that tobacco preferves them againfl the
dampnefs o f the air ; all this, joined to their natural
activity, fprightlinefs, and vigour, gives them an appearance
feeming to border on ferocity, were it not the
reverfe of their manners, which are gentle and eafy,
when
when no motive is given, to choler, which the leaft fparlc
kindles into violence.
It has been obferved, that the inhabitants of mountains
are ftrongly attached to their country, which probably
arifes from the divifion of lands, in which, generally
fpeaking, all have an intereil. In this, the Bif-
eayners exceed all other Hates, looking with fondnefs on
their hills, as the moil delightful fcenes in the world,
and their people as the moil refpeiftable, defcended
from the aborigines o f Spain. This prepoifeifion excites
them to the moil extraordinary labour, and to execute
things far beyond what could be expe&ed, in fo fmall
and rugged a country, where they have few branches of
commerce : I cannot give a greater proof o f their in-
duftry, than- thofe fine' roads they have' now made from
Bilbao to Caftile, as well as in Guypufcoa and Alaba.-
When one fees the paifage over the tremendous mountain
of Orduna, one cannot behold itwithout the utmoft
furprize and admiration.
The manners o f the Bifcayners, and the ancient Iriih,
are fo fimilar on many occafions, as to encourage the notion
of the Iriih being defcended from them. Both mem
and women are extremely fond o f pilgrimages, repairing,
from great diftances to the churches of their patrons, or
tutelary faints, finging and dancing, till they alinoft
drogj