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Show 970 MR. C. R. MARKHAM ON THE WHALE-FISHERY OF [Dec. 13, In some places the chestnut-groves come down almost to the water's edge. Along this coast there are many small fishing-towns. _ Fuenter-rabia, on its picturesque hill, overlooks the French frontier. Following the coast to the westward the next port is Pasajes ; and then comes the city of San Sebastian, which was the centre of the old whale-fishery. Zarauz is a town stretching along the shores of a sandy bay. Guetaria is built in a cleft of rocks which are sheltered behind the island of San Anton. Zumaya and Deva are at the mouths of rivers; and Motrico is a picturesque little town built on steep slopes like Clovelly, overlooking a rocky bay. These are the ports of Guipuzcoa. Ondarroa, at the mouth of its river, where small schooners are still built, is the first port of Vizcaya, coming from the east. Le-queitio is a large and more important place, sending out about a hundred fishing-boats. Next come Mundaca, at the mouth of the river Guernica, Bermeo, another populous fishing-town with as many boats as Lequeitio, Plencia, and Portugalete and Santurce in the bay of Bilbao. These are the principal Vizcayan ports. The province of Santander has Castro-Urdiales, Laredo and San-toiia on the shores of a large harbour, Santander itself, and San Vicente de la Barquera. In the Asturias are the ancient ports of Llanes, Rivadesella, Villaviciosa, the important town of Gijon, Candas, and Luanco, From the little village of Luanco to the end of the Cabo de las Peiias is a walk of eight miles; and this was the most western point I reached. The Basque fishermen are a handsome race. They go away on their fishing-voyages for many days, and are brave, honest, and industrious; while both men and women are always cheerful and light-hearted. They belong to a people who, for centuries, have repelled foreign invasion, have enjoyed free institutions, and made their own laws. The Basque fishermen are the descendants of the old whalers, and retain their traditions. They have, from time to time, produced naval worthies whose names are historical. Among them are Sebastian del Cano, a native of the little fishing-town of Guetaria, who was the first circumnavigator of the globe; Legaspi, the conqueror of the Philippine Islands; Machin de Munguia, the Spanish Gren-ville ; and Churruca, whose gallantry at the battle of Trafalgar won for him the admiration of his English foes. Such men were the product of the whale-fishery, which was for the Basques, as it has since been for the British, an admirable nursery for seamen. M y first inquiries had reference to the antiquity of the Basque whale-fishery. The following facts show that it was a well established trade in the 12th century ; so that it probably existed at least two centuries earlier. King Sancho (the Wise) of Navarre granted privileges to the city of San Sebastian in the year 1150. In this grant there is a list of articles of merchandise, with the duties that must be paid for warehousing them; and whalebone has a prominent |