area, 54,540 square miles. The population of the province is about 615,000.
Bagehot (băg'ŭt or băj'ŭt), Walter, a noted English economic writer and litterateur, was born at Langport, Somersetshire, February 3, 1826, and died there March 24, 1877. He graduated at the University of London in 1848, studied law, and was called to the English bar. Instead, however, of making law his profession, he joined his father in banking, and was soon recognized as an authority in finance, and widely known as an accomplished writer and critic. From 1854 to 1863 he was one of the editors of the National Review, to which he contributed many able papers on literary, biographical and theological subjects. At the Review's decease he wrote for The Fortnightly, and between the years 1860 and 1877 was editor of The Economist. He published a number of widely-known books, among which are a text-book on The English Constitution; Lombard Street, a description of the money market; Physics and Politics, "a work which does for human society what the Origin of Species does for organic life;" and three volumes entitled respectively, Literary Studies, Economic Studies and Biographical Studies. The latter was not published until after Bagehot's death, when it appeared, edited by R. H. Hutton.
Bag'pipe, a wind instrument still common in the highlands of Scotland, and in use in some other countries. At different times it has been used in all parts of Europe. It is a large bag made of leather, usually covered with cloth, having a mouth tube by which the player fills the bag with his breath. There is a pipe with finger-holes upon which the tune is played, and also three other pipes called drones, each of which constantly sounds a single low tone. Sometimes a bellows is used instead of the piper's breath to blow up the bag. The bagpipe is a very ancient instrument. It is spoken of in the Old Testament, and was used by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It is the national instrument of the Scottish Highlanders, pipers being attached to their regiments and usually present at their festivals.
Baha'mas, a chain of islands belonging to Great Britain, stretching nearly 600 miles in a northwesterly direction from Hayti to Florida. There are twenty-nine islands, 661 islets and 2,387 reefs, occupying an area of 5,450 square miles. The population of the islands is about 58,175, of whom 6,500 are Europeans, Many woods and valuable fruits grow there, and the main trade is in oranges, pineapples, salt and sponges. The Bahamas were the first land discovered by Columbus (1492), but the exact spot of his landing is doubtful. Cat Island and Watling's Island or San Salvador each claim the honor. Nassau is the; capital. The constitution calls for a governor, an executive council of nine and a representative assembly of twenty-nine.
Bahia (bȧ-ē'a) or San Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia in Brazil, and the second city in the republic. It lies on the east shore of the Bay of All Saints, one of the finest bays in America. It is built partly on the shore and partly on high ground, and the two parts of the city are connected by steps and a hydraulic elevator. It has a university, exchange, arsenal and a national dockyard, over sixty churches and many other public institutions. It has a railroad to the interior and connection with several cities by submarine telegraph. It exports sugar, coffee, rice, cocoanuts, cotton, dyestuffs, fancy woods and diamonds. Bahia is the oldest city in Brazil. The bay was discovered in 1593 by Amerigo Vespucci, and the city was founded by a Portuguese navigator, named Correa, in 1510. It is visited by yellow fever and other epidemics yearly. Population is about 230,000, and that of Bahia state is 2,117,956, with an area of 164,643 square miles.
Baikal (bī-kāl ') Lake, a large and very deep body of fresh water in Siberia, Russia in Asia, lying north of Mongolia and the vast range of the Altai Mountains. It is situated in the Department of Irkutsk, in latitudes 51° to 55° N.; longitudes 103° to 110° E., and is fed by numerous streams from the Baikal Mountains, a spur of the Altai Range. It has several outlets, the chief being the Angara River, a confluent of the Yenisei. The Trans-Siberian Railroad which connects St. Petersburg via Manchuria with the ports of Vladivostok, Dalny and Port Arthur on the Pacific, formerly crossed Lake Baikal, the trains being transported across the lake on an ice-breaking ferry-boat. The area of the lake, which is crescent-shaped, is estimated at 13,000 square miles, with a shore line 1,000 miles in length. Its depth off its southwest shore is close upon 4,500 feet, over 2,8.00 feet below the level of the ocean. It abounds in fish, including salmon, sturgeon and fresh-water seals. Steamboats have of recent years begun to develop trade on the shores of the lake, which are* rich in mineral springs and petroleum wells. The region is subject to earthquakes.
Bainbridge, Commodore William, an American naval officer, who did staunch and loyal service during the War of 1812, was born at Princeton, N. J., May 7, 1774, and died at Philadelphia, July 28, 1833. His career as. a naval commander dates from 1798, when the United States navy was recognized. Early in the century he was actively engaged in the. Mediterranean in successive command of the frigates George Washington, Essex and Philadelphia, was once captured by the French, and had to
