The Basque region on the borders of Spain and France have several mountain tabor pipe traditions, but the dominant form
– the txistu – and the players – the txistulari – have become an expression of Basque identity. The first mention of the txistu
dates from 1864.

1810 ‘description of the Town of Bilbao’ Saunders's News-Letter - Friday 13 July 1810

1836 newspaper report Sun (London) 29 August 1836

1836 in Durango Morning Post - Wednesday 26 October 1836

1839London Evening Standard - Thursday 12 September 1839

1842 ‘Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine’. 52. 1842

1845 holy days dancing‘Encyclopaedia Metropolitana; or, universal dictionary of knowledge, on an original plan: comprising the twofold advantage of a philosophical and an alphabetical arrangement, with appropriate engravings‘: Edited by Edw. Smedley, Hugh Jam. Rose, and H. John Rose.

1846 story Lloyd's Companion to the Penny Sunday Times and Peoples' Police Gazette 20 September 1846

The Queen came to visit. Local people danced to the pipe and tabor. The Examiner - Saturday 16 September 1865

An old pipe found in a farmhouse in Gipuzkoa, Oñati: 

1878 newspaper report in London, England, regarding Biarritz annual event: Globe - Wednesday 04 September 1878