The fueros, or special rights, already spoken of, for which the Basques have fought so passionately for five hundred years, might possibly have been theirs for some time longer if they had not unwisely thrown in their lot with the Carlist Pretender.  They practically formed a republic within the monarchy; but in 1876, when the young Alfonso XII. finally conquered the provinces, all differences between them and the other parts of the kingdom were abolished, and they had to submit to the abhorred conscription.  With all the burning indignation which still makes some of them say, “I am not a Spaniard; I am a Basque,” the extraordinary advance made in this part of Spain seems to show that the hereditary energy and talent of the people are on the side of national progress.

The distinctive dress of the Basques is now almost a thing of the past; the bright kerchiefs of the women and the dark-blue cap (boina) of the men alone remain.  The Viscayan boina has been lately introduced into the French army as the headgear of the Chasseurs and some other regiments.

“Aragon is not ours; we ought to conquer it!” Isabel la Catolica is said to have remarked to her husband; and, indeed, the history of this little province is wonderfully interesting and amusing.  It alone seems to have had the good sense always to secure its rights before it would vote supplies for the Austrian kings; whereas the other provinces usually gave their money without any security, except the word of the King, which was usually broken.  Among the provisions of the fueros of the Aragonese was one that ran thus:  "Que siempre que el rey quebrantose sus fueros, pudiessen eligir otro rey encora que sea pagano" (If ever the King should infringe our fueros, we can elect another King, even though he might be a pagan), and the preamble of the election ran thus:  “We, who are as good as you, and are more powerful than you (podemos mas que vos) elect you King in order that you may protect our rights and liberties, and also we elect one between us and you (el justicia), who has more power than you:  y si no, no!” which may be taken to mean, “otherwise you are not our King.”

Somewhat of this spirit still abides in the Aragonese.  The costume is one of the most picturesque in Spain.  The men wear short black velvet breeches, open at the knees and slashed at the sides, adorned with rows of buttons, and showing white drawers underneath; alpargatas, or the plaited hempen sandals, which, with the stockings, are black; a black velvet jacket, with slashed and button-trimmed sleeves, and the gaily-coloured faja, or silk sash, worn over an elaborate shirt.