L E T T E R X V II.
Reflexions on the genius and charaXer o f the Bifcayners.
THE Bifcayners give the name o f republicks to the
different jurifdiclions in their provinces, all which,
except Orduna, their only city, and a few towns, are
compofed o f hamlets, and lonely houfes, difperfed up
and down, according to the convenience of fituation,
in fo clofe and interfered a country. However their
houfes have every advantage of diftribution, confiding"
o f a principal ftory, befxdes the ground floor, for offices,
with an appendage of ftables, granaries, eut-
houfes, courts, cellars, and gardens ; with orchards,
meadows, and often corn-fields, contiguous to the building,
with chefnut groves, and other improvements to the
very foot of the mountains. Nothing can be morepleafant
to the traveller, than to fee houfes and gardens during
the whole courfe of his progrefs, particularly from Orduna
to Bilbao, an extent of fix leagues, which feems
like one continued village. The upper part of the
houfes were formerly o f wood, but the new ones are
of ftone, and one feldom. fees an empty houfe, or any
fallen in ruins; on the contrary, many new ones,,
both large and convenient, are conftantly building; from
whence
whence it appears, that though population cannot well
be coniiderably encreafed, while new branches of in-
duftry are not introduced, all the land being occupied,
it feems, rather to augment, notwithftanding the many
emigrations ; and though fbme women emigrate like-
wife, few remain at home without huibands. Thefe difperfed
families may be held as the moft antient in Spain,
and the country is indebted to them, for population and
culture. In the Bifcay language they are called Eche-
jaunas-, that is, lords of tenements, whofe anceftors have
pofleffed them time immemorial, and will probably continue
fo for future ages, as felling or mortgaging is held
-in great difrepute. Such lands as belong to rich families,
are let out to others, and as they lie under their
eye and infpecflion, the whole is attended to, with the
utmoft a&ivity; the parochial church hands in the
centre of the parilh, which, if too exteniive, has a
chapel of eafe, for the conveniency o f the pariihioners ;
many o f whom repair to thefe churches from very great
dihances, in the fevereft weather. Their antiquity may
be traced from their dedications, which are generally to
the Blefled Virgin, to St. John, or the apoftles and
faints o f the Primitive Church ; and their livings muh be
comfortable, from the decent appearance o f their paftors.
Not only Bifcay, Guypufcoa, and Alaba, but alfo
the mountains of Burgos, are full of gentlemens feats,
X 2 known