Cyril, a twelfth-century edifice with ancient frescoes; and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, a Renaissance structure of the eighteenth century. The new Cathedral of Saint Vladimir, decorated with excellent frescoes, is considered one of the finest churches in Russia. The secular edifices are of far less interest. The Imperial palace, a French Renaissance building, contains collections of objects of art. One of the most interesting historical remains is the ‘Golden Gate,’ a restored portion of the ancient fortifications. The town hall and the buildings of the University of Saint Vladimir are also noteworthy. The university was founded in 1588 at Vilna and was removed to Kiev in 1833. It has four faculties—history, mathematics, law, and medicine,—and in 1901 the total attendance was 2316, of whom a large number were medical students. The university library has 118,000 volumes. Among other educational institutions are a theological academy which was founded in 1588 and which was for a long time the best-known institution of its kind in Russia, a polytechnic institute, five gymnasia, a military school, and several other special schools. There are also a museum containing a fine collection of ancient icons, crosses, and other sacred objects, a number of scientific associations, hospitals, philanthropic institutions, and three theatres. Kiev is the seat of a metropolitan.
The chief industries of Kiev are sugar-refining, milling and distilling, and the manufacture of tobacco, paper, chemicals, machinery, hardware, etc. It forms one of the chief centers of the Russian beet-sugar trade, and deals heavily in grain, live stock, and timber. It is famous for its conserved fruits. Its commercial interests are promoted by a stock exchange and a good harbor. An important fair is held annually in February. The population was 186,041 in 1889 and 249,830 in 1902. During the summer it is increased by some 200,000 pilgrims.
The origin of Kiev is obscure and legendary. It is known to have existed as early as the fifth century. In the ninth century, it became the capital of an independent principality, and attained wide fame during the reign of Vladimir, when, after the introduction of Christianity, it became the religious centre of Russia. Its prosperity came to an end with the thirteenth century, its splendor and wealth having made it the object of attacks on the part of the neighboring tribes and later of the Mongols. It came under the rule of Lithuania in 1320, and began to revive, soon succeeding in attaining important municipal privileges. It was given Magdeburg rights in 1499. Under the favorable rule of Lithuania the city also resumed its former position as a religious centre of Western Russia, and in the sixteenth century played a prominent part in the religious controversy between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Uniates. It passed with Lithuania to Poland in 1569. It became Russian in 1668. The fortifications were restored by Peter the Great.
KIFTI, or IBN AL-KIFTI, ĭb′’n ȧl kēf′tē̇ (Ar. Jimal al-Din abu al-Hasan ‘Alī ibn Yusuf al-Kiftī) (1172-1248). An Arabian vizier and historian. He was born of good family at Kift (Coptos). Upper Egypt, and received a good education there and in Cairo. After Saladin conquered Jerusalem (1187) Al-Kifti went to that city, where his father held an official position under the Sultan. In 1202 he betook himself to Aleppo and there, much against his will, was made vizier by Saladin's son. When the prince died in 1216, Al-Kifti gave up his office, but was again forced to assume public cares from 1219 to 1231, and again from 1236 till his death in 1248. He was an able administrator, and the State prospered under his care; literature and learning flourished. But his best title to fame rests upon his favorite studies, although of his numerous histories all were destroyed in the Mongol invasion (1260) except one. This was his Kitāb Ikhbār al-‘Ulamā biakhbār al-Ḥukamā (“Information of the Wise Men Regarding the History of the Scientists”), a historico-bibliographical work on Greek, Syriac, and Mohammedan philosophers and scientists. Unfortunately, this most important work has come down to us only in the extract made by Ali ibn Mohammed al-Zanzani in 1249. Consult August Müller. “Ueber das sogenannte ta’rīkh al-ḥukamā des Ibn el-Qifti,” in the Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Orientalists, vol. i. (Leyden, 1891).
KI-JA. See Ki-Tse.
KILAUEA, kē′lä-o͞o-ā′ȧ. A noted crater in the eastern part of the island of Hawaii, 10 miles from the sea, and 30 miles southwest of the port of Hilo, on the eastern slope of the great volcano of Mauna Loa, 4000 feet above the sea, and 9800 feet below the summit of Mauna Loa (Map: Hawaii, F 4). It forms a great cavity on the side of the mountain, three miles long, two miles wide, and in the parts where the lava is not boiling from 500 to 800 feet deep. The floor of the crater, formed by the lava streams that constantly flow and cool in one or another part of it, accumulates slowly in periods of moderate activity, but is liable to fall in or sink at any time, especially during great volcanic activity, when the lava may escape from vents below. At the southwestern end of this great sink is a small lake called Halemaumau (House of Everlasting Fire), filled with boiling lava which flows through a subterranean channel under the rim of the active craters to the lower level of the main crater-basin, forming small or large streams upon its black surface, which cool quickly. The great eruptions from this crater were those of 1789, 1823, 1832, 1840, and 1868. There seems to be no subterranean connection between the sources of the eruptions from Mauna Loa and Kilauea, each having its periods of terrible activity without seeming to affect the other. Consult Dana, Characteristics of Volcanoes (New York, 1890).
KILBOURNE, kĭl′bẽrn, James (1770-1850). An American pioneer, born at New Britain, Conn. In 1800 he became a Protestant Episcopal clergyman. Two years later he was sent to Ohio by the Scioto Land Company to select lands on which to found a settlement, and the next year, after the adoption of the State Constitution, which prohibited slavery, he purchased the territory now forming Sharon Township in Franklin County. He was soon joined by about a hundred settlers from New England, and in 1804 laid out the village of Worthington, where he organized the first Episcopal church in Ohio. Soon afterwards he resigned from the ministry, and in 1805 Congress appointed him surveyor of
