BASA-JAUN

[Basque] A benign wood spirit of the Basque, whose name means "lord of the woods". He protects the flocks and herds against predators and thunderstorms. He taught mankind the art of agriculture and forging. The spirit is mischievous, but not malignant. His wife is Basa-Andre (Basa Andere). Their characters shift considerably from story to story. In some stories Basa-Jaun is an ogre and his wife a witch (who, paradoxically, often helps her husband's victims escape).