THE BAY OF BISCAY. 145 



and a few of the principal establishments which have 

 lately been erected for the accommodation of travellers. 

 Narrow paths run in a zig-zag direction all round 

 the harbour, and at the hour for bathing these walks 

 are crowded with the promenaders, who for the 

 moment have deserted the rocks of Attala'i, or the 

 beach of Les Basques. Thanks to the patriarchal 

 traditions of Biarritz, no artificial barrier separates 

 the male and female bathers. Men and women here 

 adopt a costume, to which the most scrupulous 

 prudery could not object, but which varies some- 

 what according to individual taste, and thus conver- 

 sations or even flirtations are as agreeably conducted 

 in the bath as on the promenade. It afforded me no 

 little pleasure to watch this scene of enjoyment and 

 sport, in which harmless defiances were giren and 

 returned amid cries of joy and shouts of laughter. 

 Every one is ambitious of outvying his neighbours, 

 and even the most timid lady is desirous of reaching, 

 at least once, the line which is slung across the 

 entrance of the harbour. In order to attain this 

 desired goal, most of the fair bathers are obliged to 

 have recourse to the aid of some attendant cavalier, 

 or to accept the less agreeable support of a rude 

 swimming belt, composed of a pair of large gourds. 

 I have, however, seen several daring lady swimmers, 

 chiefly Basques or Spaniards, who, without the 

 slightest apparent effort, would bring up a handful of 

 gravel from a depth of ten feet, or would take a 

 header with all the ease and security of a proficient 

 swimmer. 



At about a mile from Biarritz lies la Chamlrc 

 VOL. II. L 



