THAMES. 181 THAR. places on the Thames besides those above men- tioned are Windsor, Kton, and Kichmond. An extensive bibliof,'raphy includes: The River Thames from Oxford to the Sea (London, 1859) ; Cassell, Royal Rircr, illustrated (ib., 1885) ; and annual Reports of the Conservators of the Eivcr Tlianies (ib.). !See London. THAMES, temz. or GRA'HAMSTOWN. A gold-mining township on the east coast of an in- let in the Hauraki Gulf, North Ishind, New Zea- land, 4(i miles east-southeast of Auckland (Map: New Zealand, E 2). Population, in 1901, 4009. THAMES, loeal proii. thfimz. A river of east- ern Connecticut (Map: Connecticut. G 4). It is a broad and navigable tidal estuary, 15 miles long, receiving the Shetucket, and entering Long Island Sound at its eastern end. At its mouth stands New London, and at its head Norwich. The Shetucket and its branches supply power for considerable manufactures. THAMES, Battle of the. A battle fought at the Jloravian settlement on the Thames River in the township of Oxford. Ontario, Canada, on October 5, 1813, during the War of 1812, be- tween an American force of about 3000 (largely Kentucky volunteers) under Gen. William H. Harrison and a British force of about G50 un- der General Proctor, aided by a force of Indians, whose number has been variously estimated at from 800 to 2000, under Tecumseh. For several days Proctor had retreated before Harrison, but had at last decided to give battle and had drawn up his troops in readiness to receive the advanc- ing Americans. The battle was begun and virtually decided by a cavalry charge under Col. Richard M. Johnson, who has been credited with having personally killed Tecumseh. The British soon broke, and fled Avildly from the field, with Proc- tor at their head, and the only serious resistance was that offered by the Indians. The loss of the Americans in killed and wounded was re- ported by Harrison as 29; that of the British was about 35, while a large number were taken prisoners. The loss of the Indians is not defi- nitely known. Proctor was soon afterwards dis- graced for his conduct during the battle. By this battle the right division of the British army in Vpper Canada was greatly weakened, and as the result of Tecumseh's death the powerful Indian confederacy in the Northwest against the United States was liroken up. THAMES EMBANKMENT. An important public work in London consisting of broad roads along tile Thames, protected on the river side by massive granite walls. The finest portion, tile Victoria Emliankment, on the north bank of the river^ between Blackfriars Bridge and West- minster, was constructed in 1864-1870. It has a carriageway 64 feet wide, flanked by broad foot-walks, and is planted with trees and adorned with gardens containing statues of notable men. The obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle stands near the Adelphi Steps. The Albert Embank- ment, on the right bank of the river, between Westminster Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge, with a 60foot roadway, was completed in l.SfiO. and the Chelsea Embankment, on the left bank, in 1873, THAM'YRIS (Lat., from Gk. ea/ivp,(:). A Thracian liard who challenged the Muses to a contest of singing. He was overcome by them and as a punishment was blinded and deprived of his gift of -song. THAN'ATOP'SIS (Neo-Lat., from Gk. 0dva. roi', IlKiiinlos, death + ixl'ir, opsis. sight, view), A well-known poem b.v William Cullen Brj'ant, written in 1811, and published in 1817. THAN'ATOS (Lat., from Gk. eivoToc, Deatli). The Cireek god of death, called by the Romans Mors, and twin brother of Sleep (see SoMNUs), with whom he is usually represented. THANE (AS. >egen, pegn, OHG. degan, at- tendant, servant, soldier, Ger. Degen, heroic war- rior; connected with Gk. Ttsrar, teknon, Skt. toka, child), or Thegn. The name by which the class of minor nobles was known in Anglo-Saxon times. Any freeman who had acquired five hides of land and a special appointment in the King's hall became a thane. He was bound to service in war, but was protected by a higher wergild (q.v. ) than the ordinary freeman. Like the gesith, who was the noble living with the King, the thane was a development from the Germanic coinitatiis or noble follower of some chief, de- scribed by Tacitus. After the Norman Conquest the thanes were merged in the class of knights. Consult Stubbs. Constitutional History of Eng- land, vol. i. (Gth ed., Oxford, 1897). THAN'ET, Isle of. The northeast corner of Kent (q.v.), England, separated by the river Stour and its branches, and bounded on the north and east by the sea (Map: England, H 5). It is 10 miles in length and from 4 to 8 in breadth. Agriculture is successfully pursued. It contains the well-known watering places, Ram.sgate, Margate, and Broadstairs. Popula- tion, in 1891, 57,800; in 1901. 08.350. Consult: Simson, Historic Thanet (London, 1891). THANET, Octave. The pseudonym of the American novelist Alice French (q.v.). THANKSGIVING DAY. A day specially set apart for the giving of thanks. After the fir.st harvest of the New England colonists in 1621 Governor Bradford made provision for their rejoicing specially together with praise and prayer. In 1023 a day of fasting and prayer in the midst of drought was changed into thanks- giving by the coming of rain during the prayers; gradually the custom prevailed of appointing thanksgiving annually- after harvest. 'These ap- pointments were by proclamation of the Gov- ernors of the several New England colonies. Dur- ing the Revolution a day of national thanksgiv- ing was annually recommended by Congress. Since 1864 the President has appointed a day of Thanksgiving (usually the last 'Thursday of No- vember), and his proclamation has generally been followed by similar proclamations from the Gov- ernors of several States. The credit of this change belongs to Mrs. Sarah .Josepha Hale, editress of Godey's Lady Book (Philadelphia), and the first President to adopt it was Abraham Lincoln. Consult Love, The Fast and Thanks- giving Days of New England (New York, 1895). THAR, thar (East Indian name), or Tahr. A goat-antelope (Hemitragus Jemlaicus) allied to the Nilgiri goat (q.v.), which inhabits the higher forest regions of the southwestern Hima- layas. It is about 3I/3 feet tall. It is usually dark brown, but variable, and lighter in winter. 'The female is singular in having four teats. Tlic
