TIIE BAY OF BISCAY. 197 



called to account by the inquisition, as if he had been 

 guilty of a heresy. 



The Basques, who consider themselves as the sole 

 representatives of the ancient Iberian people, have 

 not failed to avail themselves of the results of this 

 controversy. A sort of Christian mythology has 

 replaced among them the vague traditions of former 

 times. Aitor has become Noah ; he is the father of the 

 Euskaldunac ; from whence it results that the latter 

 are the progenitors of all other nations. According 

 to their legends, Spain more particularly was peopled 

 directly by the companions of Tubal or of Tursis *, 

 whose descendants spread themselves over the whole 

 of Europe, and possibly other parts of the world. Is 

 the Euskara language, in truth, the same which, 

 according to the common belief, was spoken by 

 Adam and Eve in their terrestrial paradise ? This 

 is very possible, for Noah may have received it tra- 

 ditionally, and in that case he would have transmitted 

 it to his descendants. It is true that the latter, 

 wishing to defy the Almighty by erecting the Tower 

 of Babel, were struck with confusion, seventy-two 

 tongues having suddenly replaced the single language 

 they had received from their fathers. But the Scrip- 

 tures do not inform us of the year in which the pride 

 of men brought upon them this punishment. It is 

 therefore not impossible, that the colony which was 



* We find that all modern Basque authors maintain these two 

 opinions, -which were first advanced by Spanish writers. Thus, for 

 instance, the Abbe d'Hiarce regards Tarsis as the founder of the 

 first Iberian colony, whilst Larramendi, who in this respect la 

 followed by M. Chaho, refers its origin as far back as Tubal. 

 o 3 



