India, situated on the Irawadi in lat

24° 16′ N., long. 95° 55′ E. It is a trading center. Bhandara (bhun'du-ra). A district in the Nagpur division, Central Provinces, British India, in lat. 20°-22° N., long. 79°-81° E. Area, 3,922 square miles. Population (1891), 742,887. Bharata (bha'ra-ta). In Hindu mythology and legend: ( a ) A hero and king from whom the people called Bharatas, often mentioned in the Rigveda, are represented as descended. (b) Son of Dash a ratha by Kaikeyi, and half-brother of Ramachandra. His mother brought about the exile of Rama, but Bharata refused to supplant him. On his father's death, Bharata went to bring Rama back to Ayodhya and place him on the throne. Rama refused to return until the end of his exile, and Bharata declined to reign, but at last consented to rule in Rama's name. (c) A prince of the Puru branch of the Lunar race, son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala. Through their descent from Bharata the Kauravas and Pandavas, but especially the Pandavas, were called Bharatas, 'descen dants of Bharata.' Bhartrihari (bhär"tri-ha'ri). In Sanskrit literature, a brother of King Vikramaditya, to whom are ascribed three Shatakas, or 'centuries of verse': ( a ) The Sringarashataka, or Century of Verses on Love'; (b) Nitishataka, 'Century on Politics and Ethics'; (c) Vairagyashataka, 'Century on Austerity'; a grammatical work, the Vakyapadiya; and by some the thens and Bourges 1528-35, studied law in the University of Orleans 1535-39; repaired to the University of Paris in 1539, where he eventually devoted himself to humanistic studies; published a collection of poems, "Juvenilia," in 1548; fled in the same year to Geneva, where he abjured Catholicism; became profe or of Greek in the academy Bhattikavya. Lausanne in 1549; accepted the rectorship of the acad amyat Geneva and a pastorate in Geneva in 1559; partici Bhartpur. See Bhurtpore. pated in the Colloquy of Poi y in 1561, and St. Germain in 1562; became the succe or of Calvin at Geneva on the latter's death in 1564; presided at the synods of the French Reformers at La Rochelle in 1571, and Nimes in 1572; and participated in the Colloquy at Mompelgard in 1586. He wrote "De Hæreticis a Civili Magistratu Puniendis," in which he defends the execution of Servetus, etc. Béziers (bā-zia'). A city in the department of Hérault, France, in lat. 43° 21′ N., long. 3° 12′ E.: the Roman Biterra Sep tim a no rum. It contains the noted Cathedral of St. Nazaire. You sands of its citizens were ma acred in 1209, in the Albigensian war. Population (1901), 52,077. Bezonian. A beggar; a mean, low person. According to Florio a bisogno is "a new levied soldier, such as comes needy to the wars." Cotgrave, in bisongne , says, "a filthie knave, or clowne, a raskall, a bisonian, base Bhaskara (bhäs'ka-ra). In Sanskrit literature, a celebrated astronomer and mathematician of the 12th century. He wrote the Siddhantasiromani, which contains treatises on algebra, arithmetic, and geometry. Bhattikavya (bhat-të-käv'ya). In Sanskrit literature, 'the poem of Bhatti,' an artificial epic poem by Bhatti, celebrating the exploits of Rama, and illustrating Sanskrit grammar by the employment of all po ible forms and constructions. By some it is ascribed to Bhartrihari. Bhavabhuti (bha-va-bhöʻti). A Sanskrit poet who lived in the 8th century A. D., author of the three dramas "Malatimadhava,” “Mahaviracharita," and "Uttararamacharita." Sanskrit literature, 'the purana of the future.' It is one of the eighteen puranas, supposed to have been a revelation of future events by Brahma and communicated by Sumantu to Satanika, a king of the Pandu family. The extant purana is not prophetic, but a manual of rites and observances. The commencement, treating of creation, is scarcely more than a transcript of Manu. Bhawalpur. See Bahawalpur . Bhil (bhel) States. A group of native states in Central British India, in the Vindhya and Satpura Mountains. Bhima (bhēma). [Skt. Bhima , the terrible.] In Hindu mythology, the reputed second son of Pandu, but in reality the son of his wife Pritha or Kunti by Vayu, the god of the wind. He was remarkable for his vast size and strength and voracious appetite. Also called Bhimasena and Vrikodara . Bhoja (bhō'ja). A name borne by a number of Hindu kings. A king Bhoja, ruler of Malava, who dwelt at Dhara and Ujjayini, and who, according to an inscription, lived about 1040-1090 A. D., is said by tradition to have been the Vikrama at whose court the "nine gems flourished. Bhopal (bhō-pâl'). A political agency connected with Central India. It includes, among others, the native state Bhopal, lat. 23° N., long. 77° E. Area, 6,950 square miles. Population (1891), 952,486. Bhopal. The capital of the state of Bhopal. Population (1891), 70,338. Bhrigu (bhri'gö). In Vedic mythology, the name of a cla of beings who discover fire and bring it to men. The Bhrigus have shut up fire within the wood. They are enumerated with other divine beings, especially with the Angirases and the Atharvans. One of the chief Brahmani cal tribes bears the name, and also a rishi as representative of the tribe. Bhurtpore (bhert-por'), or Bhartpur (bhartpör'). A feudatory state in Rajputana, British India. Area, 1,961 square miles. Population (1891), 640,303. Its capital, Bhurtpore, has a population (1891) of 68,033. Bhutan (bhö-tän'), or Bootan (bö-tän'). A country in Asia, lying between Tibet on the north, Sikhim on the west, and British India, occupied largely by the Him a lay as. The capital is Punakha. Power held by the Deb Raja (secular head), the Dharm Raja (spiritual head), and chieftains. Religion, Buddhism. Part of it was annexed by Great Britain in 1865. Area, 13,000 square miles. Population, about 200,000. Biard (be-är'), Auguste François. Born at Lyons, France, June 27, 1800: died near Fontainebleau, July 8, 1882. A French genre painter. Biafra (be-ä'frä). A small district in western Africa, situated on the Bight of Biafra about lat. 3o N. Biafra, Bight of. The eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea, on the western coast of Africa, between capes Formosa and Lopez. Biainia. An ancient name of Van. See Ar menia . Biala (byäʻlä). A town in Galicia, Austria Hungary, situated on the Biala, opposite Bielitz, 42 miles west-southwest of Cracow. Population (1890), commune, 7,622. Bialowicza (byä-lō-vē'chä), Forest of. A forest in Lithuania. See the extract. "The Hercynian Forest," in Gibbon's words, "overshadowed a great part of Germany and Poland." It stretched from the sources of the Rhine and Danube to regions far beyond the Vistula. Its relics remain in the Black Forest, the forests of the Hartz, and the woods of Westphalia and Na au. Only one portion remains in its primeval state the Imperial Forest of Bialowicza covers 350 square miles of marsh and jungle in Lithuania, and is reserved by a benevolent despotism as the home of the aurochs and the elk. In the days of Pytheas the natural forests stretched eastwards from the Rhine "for more than two months' journey for a man making the best of his way on foot." Elton , Origins Eng. Hist., p. 51. Bialystok. See Bielostok . Bianca (bi-an'kä). [It., feminine of bianco , from ML. blancus (E. blank ), white.] 1. The sister of Katharine in Shakspere's "Taming of the Shrew": a mild and well-bred maiden, a contrast to "Katharine the Curst." -2. A woman of Cyprus with whom Ca io had an amorous intrigue, in Shakspere's tragedy "Othello." -3. A Venetian beauty in Middle ton's play "Women beware Women," married to Leontio and tempted to become the duke's mistre by a shamele woman.-4. The Duche of Pavia in Ford's play "Love's Sacrifice": a gro and profligate woman who has the art of appearing innocent by denying the favors she means to grant.-5. A pathetic and beautiful character, "the Fair Maid of the Inn," in Mas singer, Rowley, and Fletcher's play of that name.-6. The wife of Fazio in Dean Milman's play "Fazio." Out of jealousy she ruins her husband. but repents, and, not being able to undo her work, dies of a broken heart. Biancavilla (be-än-kä-vēl'lä). A town in Sicily, 9 miles west-northwest of Catania: the Bibliander (bib'li-an-der) (originally Buch- mann), Theodore. Born at Bischoffszell, Thur- gau, 1504: died at Zurich, Nov. 26, 1564. A Swi divine and Orientalist. He was profe or of theology and Oriental philology in the University of Zu rich 1532-60, when, on account of his opposition to the Calvin is tic doctrine of predestination, he was deposed. He wrote a Latin translation of the Koran, and made many valuable contributions to the history of Mohammedanism. own gates to them. In Florence the Neri allied them- selves with Corso Donati and the violent Guelphs, and the Bianchi with Veri de Cerchi and the moderate Guelphs, and subsequently with the Ghi bel lines and the Panciatichi. Boniface VIII. espoused the party of the Neri, and sent, nominally to bring about a reconciliation, Charles de Va- lois to Florence in 1301, with the result that the Bianchi, among whom was Dante, were exiled. Bianchini (bē-än-kēnē), Francesco. Born at Verona, Italy, Dec. 13, 1662: died at Rome, March 2, 1729. A noted Italian astronomer and antiquary. Bianco (bē-än'kō), or Biancho (bē-än'kō), Andrea. A Venetian chartographer who lived in the first half of the 15th century. He left a collection of hydrographical charts anterior to the discov- ery of the Cape of Good Hope and of America. In a chart dated 1436 he shows two islands west of the Azores, named "An till i a" and "De lam an Satanaxio," which some claim indicate a knowledge of the two Americas. places in France, and is also a noted winter resort. It was developed during the second empire. Population (1891), commune, 9,177. Bias (bi'as). [Gr. Βίας.] In Greek mythology, the son of A myth a on, and brother of Melampus. He obtained a third part of the kingdom of Argos. Bias, Born at Priene, in Ionia: lived in the mid- dle of the 6th century B. C. One of the "Seven Sages" of Greece, noted for his apothegms. Bias. See Beas . Bibbiena (Fernando Galli). Born at Bologna, Italy, 1653: died at Bologna, 1743. An Italian painter and architect. Biberach (be'ber-äch). A town in the circle of the Danube, Würtemberg, 22 south- West of Ule, formerly a free imperial city. Here the From deforme strend May 9, 1800. Population (1890), commune, 8,264. Bibesco (bē-bes'kō), George Demetrius. Born 1804: died at Paris, June 1, 1873. A Walla- chi an politician, hospodar of Wall a chia 1842-48. Bibesco, Barbo Demetrius (adopted name Stirbei). Born 1801: died at Nice, France, April 13, 1869. A Wall a chi an politician, brother of George Demetrius Bibesco, hospo- dar of Wall a chia 1849-56. Bible (bi'bl), The. See Miles Cover dale, Wyclif , Thomas Bentham, Septuagint , Mazarin Bible , work to Saint Augustine, first bishop of Hamburg. It seems to have been a popular manuscript, for copies written before the fifteenth century have been found in many old monasteries. These copies are not alike. Nearly every transcriber has made more or le alterations and innovations of his own; but the general plan of the book-the contrasting of apostles with prophets, and of the patriarchs of the Old Testament with the saints of the Christian church-has been preserved in all the copies. Bibliophile Jacob, Le. A novel by Balzac, Bibliothèque de Ste. Geneviève. Originally, the library of the Abbey of Ste. Geneviève, founded in 1624. The present structure and organ i- zati on date from 1850. The library is especially rich in incunabula, fine Aldines and Elzevirs, and other impres- sions of early printers. It has also a fine collection of manuscripts. Bibliothèque Mazarin. A library of about 140,- 000 volumes and 3,000 manuscripts, founded by Cardinal Mazarin. It is rich in bibliographie Bibliothèque Nation ale. The great French library, library, the largest in the world. It has been called succe ively La Bibliothèque du Roi, Royale, Natio- nale, Impériale, and Nation ale. The Bibliothèque du Roi was originally in the Palais de la Cité, consisting of the library of King John. He bequeathed it to Charles V., who removed it and collected a library of 910 volumes in the Louvre. This was sold to the Duke of Bedford. Louis XI. partly repaired this lo and added the first results of the new invention of printing. Louis XII. established it at Blois, incorporating it with the Orléans library. The Gruthuyse collection was next added to it. Francis I. transferred the library to Fontainebleau, and placed it in charge of Jean Budié. Henry II. made obliga- tory the deposit of one copy of every book published the kingdom. Henry IV. brought it back to Paris, where it changed in location frequently before resting in its pres- ent quarters in the Palais Mazarin, Rue Richelieu. Na- pole on I. increased the government grant, and under his care the library was much enlarged. It contains 2,500,000 volumes, 00,000 manuscripts, and collections of prints and love with her brother Caunus and was changed into a fountain. Ovid , Met., ix. 662. Bibra (bē'bri), Ernst von. Born at Schweb- Bida (bē'dä). Capital of Nupe, in West Africa, situated in lat. 9° N., long. 6° 20′ E. Bida (bē-dä'), Alexandre. Born 1813: died Jan. 2, 1895. A French designer and painter, noted chiefly for treatment of scriptural and Oriental subjects. His chief work is designs illustrating the Evangelists (1873). Bidar (bē'dar). A district in the Nizam's dominions, British India. Area, 4,180 square miles. Population (1891), 901,984. Bid as so a (bē-däs-sō'ä). A river in northern Spain which flows into the Bay of Biscay at Fuenterrabia: length, 50 miles. It is for about 12 miles the boundary between France and Spain. Welling- ton pa ed the Bid as so a Oct. 7, 1813, defeating the French under Soult. June 5, 1878. A German chemist, naturalist, traveler, and novelist. Among his numerous works are "Reisen in Südamerika" (1854), "Die narkotischen Genus smit tel und der Mensch” (1855), “Erinnerungen aus Südamerika" (1861), "Aus Chile, Peru, und Brasilien" (1862), "Reiseskizzen und Nov ellen" (1864), etc. Bibracte (bi-brakʼtē). In ancient geography, a town in central Gaul, the capital of the Ædui, on the site of Mont Beuvray 8 miles west of Autun, with which it was formerly identified. Near it Cæsar defeated the Edui. Bibrax (bi'braks). [L. Bibracte or Bibrax , Gr. Βίβραξ , according to Zeu 'beaver town,' from OGaul. * bebros = L. fiber = E. beaver . Cf. Beverley .] In ancient geography, a town of the Remi, in Gaul. It is placed by d'Anville at Bièvres on the Aisne. Bibulus (bib'u-lus), Lucius Calpurnius. Died near Corcyra, Greece, 48 в. с. A Roman pol i- tician. He was Julius Cæsar's colleague in the consul- ship 59 B. C., having been elected through the efforts of the aristocratic party. After an ineffectual attempt to oppose Caesar's agrarian law, he shut himself up in his own house, whence he i ued edicts against Cæsar's mea- sures . He was appointed by Pompey commander of the fleet in the Ionian Sea, 49 B. C., to prevent Cæsar from cro ing over into Greece. His vigilance was, however, eluded by the latter in January of the following year. Bicêtre (be-satr'). A village 14 miles south of Paris, containing a celebrated hospital, founded by Louis XIII. in 1632, for invalid officers and soldiers. The foundation was greatly enlarged by Louis XIV. and turned into a general hospital. It is now devoted to the aged and incurable poor and the insane. Bichat (be-shä'), Marie François Xavier. Born at Thoirette, Jura, France, Nov. 11, 1771: died at Paris, July 22, 1802. A celebrated French physiologist and anatomist, the founder of scientific histology and pathological an at- omy. His chief works are "Traité des membranes" (1800), "Recherches sur la vie et la mort" (1800), “Ana- tomie générale" (1801). Bicker staff (bik'er-staf), Isaac, Astrologer. The name which Steele adopted as editor of the "Tatler," when he published it in 1709. He took it from the name a umed by Swift in a con- troversy with Partridge, an almanac-maker, which had amused the town. Bicker staff, Isaac. A pseudonym used by Ben- jam in West (the mathematician) in his Boston almanac. Bickerstaffe, Isaac. Born in Ireland about 1735: died in 1812 (?). A British dramatic writer. As a boy he was one of the pages to Lord Ches- ble position in the society of men of letters, but in 1772 was suspected of a capital crime, and fled to St. Malo, Bible where he lived for some time under an a umed name. IMG:content-0237.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0238.png:[blocks in formation] April, 1713. A Dutch surgeon and anatomist. He was profe or of anatomy at The Hague, later profes- sor of anatomy and chemistry at Leyden, and physician to William III. of England. His chief work is " An a tomia Biebrich (bē'brich). A town in the province of He e-Na au, Pru ia, situated on the Rhine 3 miles south of Wiesbaden: a former res i- dence of dukes of Na au. Near by is said to have occurred Cæsar's second pa age of the Rhine. Popula- tion of Biebrich-Mosbach (1890), commune, 11,023. Bieda (be-a'da). A small place near Viterbo in Italy: the ancient Blera. Biedermann (bē'der-män), Fried rich Karl. Born Sept. 25, 1812: died March 5, 1901. A German publicist, politician, and historian. He was (extraordinary) profe or of philology at Leipsic 1838-54. In the latter year he was imprisoned, as editor of the "Deutschen Annalen," for political reasons, and lost his profe orship, but was reinstated in 1865. He was active in the politics of Saxony and of the empire. Biefve (byef), Édouard de. Born at Bru els Dec. 4, 1809: died at Bru els, Feb. 7, 1882. A Belgian painter. His chief work is "Compro- mise of the Nobles at Bru els, Feb. 16, 1566." Biel. See Bienne . IMG:content-0239.png:[blocks in formation] Bielski (byāl's ki), Marcin. Born at Biala, near Sieradz, Poland, about 1495: died at Biala, 1575. A Polish historian. His chief works are "Kronika świata" (1550), "Kronika polska" (a history Poland: continued by his son Joachim Bielski from 1576 to 1597: published 1597). IMG:content-0240.png:[blocks in formation] the northeastern end of the Lake of Bienne, 17 miles northwest of Bern. Watch-making is the chief industry. It contains the Museum Schwab (antiqui- Bienne, Lake of. A lake in northwestern Switzerland, 3 miles northeast of Lake Neu- châtel. It is traversed by the Zihl (Thiele). Length, 94 miles; breadth, 24 miles. Bienville (by an-vēl'), Jean Baptiste Lemoine, Sieur de. Born at Montreal, Canada, Feb. 23, 1680: died in France, 1768. A French governor of Louisiana, 1701-13, 1718-26, and 1733- about 1740. He founded New Orleans in 1718. Bienewitz. See Apianus . Bierstadt (ber'stät), Albert. Born at Solingen, near Dü eldorf, Germany, Jan. 7, 1830: died at New York, Feb. 18, 1902. A German-Ameri- can landscape-painter. Among his noted paintings are "Sunshine and Shadow" (1857), "Lander's Peak" (1863), "Domes of the Yosemite," " Mount Hood," etc. Biesbosch (bēs'bosk). A marshy lake in the Netherlands, on the border of South Holland and North Brabant, southeast of Dordrecht. Its outlet to the North Sea is the Hollandsch Diep. It was formed 1421 by an inundation of the Meuse. Biet (byā), Antoine. A French mi ionary who accompanied the 600 colonists sent to Cayenne in 1652, and remained there eighteen Bifröst (be frest). In Old Norse mythology, the rainbow, the bridge of the gods which reached from heaven to earth. Every day the gods rode over it to their judgment-place under the tree Yggdrasil, near the sacred well of the Norns. Also called Asbru (Old Norse Biel, or Byll (bēl), Gabriel. Born at Speyer, Germany: died at Tübingen, Germany, 1495. A German scholastic philosopher (nominalist), profe or of theology and philosophy at the University of Tübingen: called mistakenly clock-tower of the new houses of Parliament, Bielitz (bē'lits). A town in Silesia, Austria- Hungary, in lat. 49° 50′ N., long. 19° 3′ E. It manufactures engines, woolens, etc. Popu- lati on (1891), 14,573. Biella (bē-el'lä). A town in the province of Novara, Italy, 39 miles northeast of Turin. It has a cathedral. Population, 11,000. Big Beggar man. A nickname of O'Connell. Big Ben. The name given to the bell in the London. It is said to be the largest bell in England. It was cast in 1858. It is the second of the name, the first being defective. Walford , Old and New London. Big Bethel (big beth'el). A village in eastern Virginia, 10 miles northwest of Fortre Monroe. Bijnor (bij-nor'). A district in the Rohilkund division, Northwest Provinces, British India. Area, 1,898 square miles. Population (1891), 794,070. Bikanir (bi-ka-ner'). A native state in northern Rajputana, under the supervision of British India. Area, 23,090 square miles. Population (1891), 831,955. Bikanir. The capital of Bikanir. Population Bilaspur (be-läs-pör'). A feudatory state in (1891), 56,252. the Panjab, British India. Area, 448 square miles. Population (1891), 91,760. Here, June 10, 1861, the Federals (2,500) under General 158. Peirce were defeated by the Confederates (1,800) under Bilat. See Belit . Big Black. A river of western Mi i ippi which joins the Mi i ippi at Grand Gulf. Its length is over 200 miles, and it is navigable about 50 miles. It was noted in Grant's campaign before Vicksburg, May, Big Bone Lick. A salt spring in Boone County, Kentucky, situated about 20 miles southwest of Cincinnati: noted for its fo il deposits. Bigelow (big'e-lō), John. Born at Malden, New York, Nov. 25, 1817. An American author, journalist, and diplomatist. He was an editor and one of the proprietors of the New York "Evening Post" 1850-61; consul at Paris 1861-65; and minister to France 1865-66. He edited Franklin's autobiography 1868, and has published "Jamaica in 1850, etc.," "Life of Frémont" (1856), "Les États-Unis d'Amérique en 1863," a monograph on "Molinos the Quietist" (1882). He has edited a life of William Cullen Bryant, the speeches of Samuel J. Tilden, and the works of Benjamin Franklin. Big-endians (big-en'di-anz), The. A religious sect (intended for the Catholic party), in "Lilliput," who considered it a matter of duty to break egg-shells at the big end. They were con- sidered heretics by the Little-endians (the Protestants), who broke their egg-shells in an orthodox manner at the little end. Big Horn. A river of Wyoming and southern Montana which joins the Yellow stone in lat. 46°13′ N., long. 107° 26′ W. Length, about 450 miles. The upper part is called Wind River. Big Horn Mountains. A range of the Rocky Mountains in central and northern Wyoming, extending northward into Montana. Highest points, about 12,000 feet. Biglow Papers, The. A series of humorous political poems, with explanatory introductions, written by James Ru ell Lowell in the New England dialect. Many of them were signed Hosea Biglow. They were published in two series (1848, relating chiefly to slavery and the Mexican war: and 1867, relating chiefly to the Civil War and reconstruction). The Century Cyclopedia of Names IMG:content-0242.png:[blocks in formation] Birh Bima (bē'mä). A seaport on the northern Billaud-Varenne (bē-yō'vä-ren'), Jean Nico-coast of Sumbawa, Dutch East Indies, in lat. las. Born at La Rochelle, France, April 23, 1756: died at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, June 3, 1819. A French Revolutionist, member of the Convention and of the Committee of Public Safety. He was deported to Guiana in 1816, came to