26 EEADE ON BASQUES 



abouudiug iu Dyfed and Gwyned aud the other ancient divisions of Wales. In Cornwall 

 and Devon, in Upper G-allovray, Strathaven aud Allendale, dark, even black, hair was often 

 met with. It was iu South Wales, however, that physiognomies strikingly Iberian or 

 Basque-like, were most commonly observed. A comparison of Bearnese, Basque and 

 South Wales photographs made it clear that the sitters were of the same type. In Ireland 

 Dr. Beddoe found a preponderance of dark hair, such as occurs nowhere else in the 

 British Isles. He also met in parts of Ireland specimens of a type still more primitive than 

 the iterian. One of these, which Mr. Hector McLean considered identical with the 

 Cro-Magnon race, is also common in Spain. 



The plan of Dr. Beddoe's book makes it difficult to quote from it ; biit no person, who 

 would have a clear insight into the actual position of the race problem in Great Britain 

 and Western Europe, should neglect giving it careful study. It possesses a quality not 

 always discoverable in works of ethnology — that of trustworthiness. The author testifies 

 only to that which he has seen aud known, and the story of his tour of observation is a 

 veritable romance of science. It is not unworthy of mention, in addressing this Section of 

 the Eoyal Society of Canada, that Dr. Beddoe speaks with the utmost respect of the 

 researches of our esteemed colleague, Dr. Daniel Wilson, whose " Prehistoric Annals of 

 Scotland " was one of the most successful of the pioneer efforts to let in light upon the 

 darkness which shrouded the ethnology of the British Isles. 



The passages cited or referred to will give a general notion of the significance and 

 comprehensiveness of the Basque problem, in its connection with the races of Europe. 

 Before proceeding to discuss the relations, real aud possible, between the Basques and the 

 New World, it will be well to give an outline of their history, as far as it is known, and 

 of the actual geography, population and condition of the Basque provinces in France and 

 Spain. 



What are known in Spain as the " Provincias Yascongadas " are three iu number : 

 Vizcaya (or Biscay), Guipuzcoa and Alava. The territory occupied by them is in the 

 form of a triangle, bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, on the south by Soria, on 

 the east by Navarre aud part of France, and on the west by Santander and Burgos. The 

 French Basque provinces include the arrondissements' of Bayonne and Mauleon and part 

 of Oloron. Both iu Spain and France, the Basque language is spoken beyond the spe- 

 cified limits — the whole number of persons using it being, according to Prince L. L. 

 Bonaparte, about 800,000, of whom 660,000 may be assigned to Spain aud the remainder to 

 France. There are also Basque-speaking communities iu Mexico, Paraguay, aud the 

 Argentine Republic. The chief seaports of the French Basques are Bayonne, St. Jean de 

 Luz, Biarritz (also a famous health and pleasure resort), Guetary and Ciboure. On the 

 Spanish side, Fuenterrabia, from its picturesque hill, overlooks the French frontier. 

 Following the coast westward one reaches Pasages, the city of St. Sebastian — once the 

 centre of the whale fishery, — Zaraus, Guetaria, in a cleft of rocks sheltered by the island 

 of St. Anton, Ziimaya, Deva, Motrico, Andarroa, Lequeitio, Mundaca, Bermeo, Plencia, 

 Portugalete, Santurce, Castro-Urdiales, Laredo, Santona, Santander, San Vicente de la 

 Barquera, Lianes, RiA'adesella, Villaviciosa, Gijon, Candas, Luanco. These ports, which 

 were personally visited some years ago by Mr. Clements R. Markham, lie between the 

 French frontiers and Cabo de Penas. The history of some of them extends back into classic 

 times. Strabo devotes most of his third book to " Iberia," as Spain was called by the 



