Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Bent, James" to "Bibirine" by Various
introduction of additional cards. The cards rank as follows:--Ace, ten,
6564 words | Chapter 53
king, queen, knave, nine, eight, seven.
The usual game is for two players. The players cut for deal, and the
higher bezique card deals. The objects of the play are: (1) to promote
in the hand various combinations of cards, which, when declared, entitle
the holder to certain scores; (2) to win aces and tens, known as
"brisques"; (3) to win the so-called last trick. The dealer deals eight
cards to each, first three, then two, and again three. The top card of
those remaining (called the "stock") is turned up for trumps. As
sometimes played, the first marriage, or the first sequence, decides the
trump suit; there is then no score for the seven of trumps (see below).
The stock is placed face downwards between the players and slightly
spread. The non-dealer leads any card, and the dealer plays to it, but
need not follow suit, nor win the trick. If he wins the trick by playing
a higher card of the same suit led, or a trump, the lead falls to him.
In case of ties the leader wins. Whoever wins the trick leads to the
next; but before playing again each player takes a card from the stock
and adds it to his hand, the winner of the trick taking the top card.
This alternate playing and drawing a card continues until the stock
(including the trump card or card exchanged for it, which is taken up
last) is exhausted. The tricks remain face upwards on the table, but
must not be searched during the play of the hand.
The scores are shown as follows:--
_Table of Bezique Scores._
_Seven of trumps_, turned up, dealer marks 10
_Seven of trumps_, declared (see below) or exchanged, player
marks 10
_Marriage_ (king and queen of any suit) declared 20
_Royal marriage_ (king and queen of trumps) declared 40
_Bezique_ (queen of spades and knave of diamonds) declared 40
_Double bezique_ (all the four bezique cards) declared 500
_Four aces_ (any four, whether duplicates or not) declared 100
_Four kings_ (any four) declared 80
_Four queens_ (any four) declared 60
_Four knaves_ (any four) declared 40
_Sequence_ (ace, ten, king, queen, knave of trumps) declared 250
_Aces and tens_, in tricks, the winner for each one marks 10
_Last trick_ of all (as sometimes _played_, the last
trick before the stock is exhausted) the winner marks 10
A "declaration" can only be made by the winner of a trick immediately
after he has won it, and before he draws from the stock. It is effected
by placing the declared cards (one of which at least must not have been
declared before) face upwards on the table, where they are left, unless
they are played, as they may be. A player is not bound to declare. A
card led or played cannot be declared. More than one declaration may be
made at a time, provided no card of one combination forms part of
another that is declared with it. Thus four knaves and a marriage may be
declared at the same time; but a player cannot declare king and queen of
spades and knave of diamonds together to score marriage and bezique. He
must first declare one combination, say bezique; and when he wins
another trick he can score marriage by declaring the king. A declaration
cannot be made of cards that have already all been declared. Thus, if
four knaves (one being a bezique knave) and four queens (one being a
bezique queen) have been declared, the knave and queen already declared
cannot be declared again as bezique. To score all the combinations with
these cards, after the knaves are declared and another trick won,
bezique must next be made, after which, on winning another trick, the
three queens can be added and four queens scored. Lastly, a card once
declared can only be used again in declaring in combinations of a
different class. For example: the bezique queen can be declared in
bezique, marriage and four queens; but having once been declared in
single bezique, she cannot form part of another single bezique. Two
declarations may, in a sense, be made to a trick, but only one can be
scored at the time. Thus with four kings declared, including the king of
spades, bezique can be declared and scored, but the spade marriage
cannot be scored till the holder wins another trick. The correct formula
is "Forty, and 20 to score." The seven of trumps may be either declared
or exchanged for the turn-up after winning a trick, and before drawing.
When exchanged, the turn-up is taken into the player's hand, and the
seven put in its place. The second seven can, of course, be declared. A
seven when declared is not left on the table, but is simply shown.
The winner of the last trick can declare anything hitherto undeclared in
his hand. After this all declarations cease. The winner of the last
trick takes the last card of the stock, and the loser the turn-up card
(or seven exchanged for it). All cards on the table, that have been
declared and not played, are taken up by their owners. The last eight
tricks are then played, but the second player must follow suit if able,
and must win the trick if able. Finally, each player counts his tricks
for the aces and tens they may contain, unless (as is often done) they
are scored at the time. If a player revokes in the last eight tricks, or
does not win the card led, if able, the last eight tricks belong to his
adversary. The deal then passes on alternately until the game (1000) is
won. If the loser does not make 500, his opponent counts a double game,
or double points, according as they have agreed. The score is best kept
by means of a special bezique-marker.
_Three- and Four-Handed Bezique._--When three play, three packs are
used together. All play against each other. The player on the left of
the dealer is first dealt to and has the first lead. The rotation of
dealing goes to the left. If double bezique has been scored, and one
pair has been played, a second double bezique may be made with the
third pair and the pair on the table. Triple bezique scores 1500. All
the cards of the triple bezique must be on the table at the same time
and unplayed to a trick. All may be declared together, or a double
bezique may be added to a single one, or a third bezique may be added
to a double bezique already declared. The game is 2000 up. Sometimes
the three players cut, the one who cuts the highest card plays against
the other two in consultation, and continues to do so till the allies
win a game, when the two cut as before to see who shall be the single
player. Only two packs are then used.
When four play four packs are used. The players may then score
independently or may play as partners. A second double bezique or
triple bezique may be scored as before; to form them the beziques may
be declared from the hand of either partner. A player may declare when
he or his partner takes a trick. In playing the last eight tricks, the
winner of the last trick and the adversary to his left play their
cards against each other, and then the other two similarly play
theirs. Four people may also play in pairs by consultation, only two
packs being then required.
_Polish Bezique_ (also called "Open Bezique" and "Fildniski") differs
from ordinary bezique in the following particulars. The game is not
less than 2000 up. Whenever a scoring card is played, the winner of
the trick places it face upwards in front of him (the same with both
cards if two scoring cards are played to a trick), forming rows of
aces, kings, queens, knaves and trump tens (called _open_ cards).
Cards of the same denomination are placed overlapping one another
lengthwise from the player towards his adversary to economise space.
When a scoring card is placed among the open cards, all the sevens,
eights, nines, and plain suit tens in the tricks are turned down and
put on one side. Open cards cannot be played a second time, and can
only be used in declaring. Whether so used or not they remain face
upwards on the table until the end of the hand, including the last
eight tricks. A player can declare after winning a trick and before
drawing again, when the trick won contains a card or cards, which
added to his open cards complete any combination that scores. Every
declaration must include a card played to the trick last won. Aces and
tens must be scored as soon as won, and not at the end of the hand.
The seven of trumps can be exchanged by the winner of the trick
containing it; and if the turn-up card is one that can be used in
declaring, it becomes an open card when exchanged. The seven of trumps
when not exchanged is scored for by the player winning the trick
containing it.
Compound declarations are allowed, i.e. cards added to the open cards
can at once be used, without waiting to win another trick, in as many
combinations of different classes as they will form with the winner's
open cards. For example: A has three open kings, and he wins a trick
containing a king. Before drawing again he places the fourth king with
the other three, and scores 80 for kings. This is a simple
declaration. But suppose the card led was the queen of trumps, and A
wins it with the king, and he has the following open cards--three
kings, three queens, and ace, ten, knave of trumps. He at once
declares royal marriage (40); four kings (80); four queens (60); and
sequence (250); and scores in all, 430. Again: ace of spades is turned
up, and ace of hearts is led. The second player has two open aces, and
wins the ace of hearts with the seven of trumps and exchanges. He
scores for the exchange, 10; for the ace of hearts, 10; for the ace of
spades, 10; and adds the aces to his open cards, and scores 100 for
aces; in all, 130. If a declaration or part of a compound declaration
is omitted, and the winner of the trick draws again, he cannot amend
his score.
The ordinary rule holds that a second declaration cannot be made of a
card already declared in the same class. Thus: a queen once married,
cannot be married again; a fifth king added to four already declared
does not entitle to another score for kings. The fundamental point to
be borne in mind is, that no declaration can be effected by means of
cards held in the hand. Thus: A having three open queens and a queen
in hand cannot add it to his open cards. He must win another trick
containing a queen, when he can declare queens. Declarations continue
during the play of the last eight tricks just the same as during the
play of the other cards.
_Rubicon Bezique._--Four packs are used. Nine cards are dealt by three
to each player. The rules of Polish bezique hold good in regard to
dealing, leading, playing to lead, drawing and declaring; but a player
who receives a hand containing no picture-card (king, queen, or knave)
scores 50 for _carte blanche_, which he shows. If he does not draw a
picture-card, he can again score for _carte blanche_. The trump suit
is decided by the first sequence or marriage declared. As four packs
are used, triple and quadruple bezique may be made. Triple bezique
counts 1500, quadruple 4500. Tricks are left face upwards till a
_brisque_ (ace or ten) is played, when the winner takes all the played
cards and puts them in a heap; their only value is the value of the
_brisques_, which are only counted when the scores are very close;
then they are used to decide the game. They may be counted during the
play, provided there are not more than twelve cards in the stock.
Declarations can only be made after winning a trick and before
drawing. In addition to the ordinary bezique declarations, sequence,
counting 150, can be made in plain suits. Declared cards, except
_carte blanche_, remain on the table. If the holder of _carte blanche_
hold four aces and wins the first trick, he can declare his aces. With
the exceptions already made, the scores for declarations are the same
as at ordinary bezique. Declaration is not compulsory. Cards led or
played cannot be declared. There are three classes of declarations,
their order being (1) marriage and sequence, (2) bezique, (3) fours. A
card once declared can be used for a second declaration, but only in
an equal or superior class. If a card of a declared combination be
played to a trick, another card of the same rank may be used to form a
second similar combination; e.g. if aces be declared and one of them
be played by the playing of a fifth ace, aces can be declared again.
If a player has a chance of a double declaration he can declare both,
but can only score one at the time. As in other variations of bezique
he announces, say, "forty, and twenty to score." He should repeat,
"Twenty to score," after every trick, until he can legally score it,
but if he plays a card of the combination he cannot score the points.
To the last nine tricks, after the stock is exhausted, the second
player must follow suit and win the trick by trumping or over-playing,
if he can. The winner of the odd trick scores 50. The game consists of
one deal. In reckoning the score all fractions of 100 are neglected;
the winner scores 500 for game in addition to the difference between
his own points and his opponent's. The loser is "rubiconed" if he does
not score 1000 points, in which case the winner adds the loser's
points to his own, takes 300 for _brisques_ and 1000 for game, but the
loser may claim his _brisques_ to save a rubicon, though they are not
reckoned among his points. If a rubiconed player has scored less than
100 the opponent counts the score as 100.
BEZWADA, a town of British India, in the Kistna district of Madras, on
the left bank of the river Kistna, at the head of its delta. Pop. (1901)
24,224. Here are the headquarters of the Kistna canal system, which
irrigates more than 500,000 acres, and also provides navigation
throughout the delta. The anicut or dam at Bezwada, begun in 1852,
consists of a mass of rubble, fronted with masonry, 1240 yds. long. Here
also is the central junction of the East Coast railway from Madras to
Calcutta, 267 m. from Madras, where one branch line comes down from the
Warangal coalfield in the Nizam's Dominions, and another from Bellary on
the Southern Mahratta line. Ancient cuttings on the hills west of
Bezwada have been held by some to mark the site of a Buddhist monastery;
by others they are considered to have been quarries. At Undavalle to the
south are some noted cave-shrines.
BHAGALPUR, a city of British India, in the Behar province of Bengal,
which gives its name to a district and to a division; situated on the
right bank of the Ganges, 265 m. from Calcutta. It is a station on the
East Indian railway. Pop. (1901) 75,760, showing an increase of 9% in
the decade. The chief educational institution is the Tejnarayan Jubilee
college (1887), supported almost entirely by fees. Adjacent to the town
are the two Augustus Cleveland monuments, one erected by government, and
the other by the Hindus, to the memory of the civilian, who, as
collector of Bhagalpur at the end of the 18th century, "by conciliation,
confidence and benevolence, attempted and accomplished the entire
subjection of the lawless and savage inhabitants of the Jungleterry of
Rajmahal."
The DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR stretches across both banks of the Ganges. It
has an area of 4226 sq. m. In 1901 the population was 2,088,953, showing
an increase of 3% in the decade. Bhagalpur is a long and narrow
district, divided into two unequal parts by the river Ganges. In the
southern portion of the district the scenery in parts of the hill-ranges
and the highlands which connect them is very beautiful. The hills are of
primary formation, with fine masses of contorted gneiss. The ground is
broken up into picturesque gorges and deep ravines, and the whole is
covered with fine forest trees and a rich undergrowth. Within this
portion also lie the lowlands of Bhagalpur, fertile, well planted, well
watered, and highly cultivated. The country north of the Ganges is
level, but beautifully diversified with trees and verdure. Three fine
rivers flow through the district-the Ganges, Kusi and Ghagri. The Ganges
runs a course of 60 m. through Bhagalpur, is navigable all the year
round, and has an average width of 3 m. The Kusi rises in the Himalayas
and falls into the Ganges near Colgong within Bhagalpur. It is a fine
stream, navigable up to the foot of the hills, and receives the Ghagri 8
m. above its debouchure.
In the early days of British administration the hill people, the Nats
and Santals, gave much trouble. They were the original inhabitants of
the country whom the Aryan conquerors had driven back into the barren
hills and unhealthy forests. This they avenged from generation to
generation by plundering and ravaging the plains. The efforts to subdue
or restrain these marauders proved fruitless, till Augustus Cleveland
won them by mild measures, and successfully made over the protection of
the district to the very hill people who a few years before had been
its scourge. Rice, wheat, barley, oats, Indian corn, various kinds of
millet, pulses, oil-seeds, tobacco, cotton, indigo, opium, flax and hemp
and sugar-cane, are the principal agricultural products of Bhagalpur
district. The jungles afford good pasturage in the hot weather, and
abound in lac, silk cocoons, catechu, resin and the _mahua_ fruit, which
is both used as fruit and for the manufacture of spirits. Lead ores
(chiefly argentiferous galena) and building stone are found, and iron
ore is distributed over the hilly country. Attempts made to work the
galena in 1878-79 and 1900 were abandoned, and the iron ore is little
worked. Gold is washed from the river sand in small particles.
The climate of Bhagalpur partakes of the character both of the deltaic
districts of Bengal and of the districts of Behar, between which it is
situated. The hot season sets in about the end of March, and continues
till the beginning of June, the temperature at this time rising as high
as 110 deg. Fahr. The rains usually begin at the end of June and last
till the middle of September; average annual rainfall, 55 in. The cold
season commences at the beginning of November and lasts till March.
During December and January the temperature falls as low as 41 deg.
Fahr. The average annual temperature is 78 deg. Bhagalpur formed a part
of the ancient Sanskrit kingdom of Anga. In later times it was included
in the powerful Hindu kingdom of Magadha or Behar, and in the 7th
century A.D. it was an independent state, with the city of Champa for
its capital. It afterwards formed a part of the Mahommedan kingdom of
Gaur, and was subsequently subjugated by Akbar, who declared it to be a
part of the Delhi empire. Bhagalpur passed to the East India Company by
the grant of the emperor Shah Alam in 1765.
There are indigo factories, and other industries include the weaving of
tussur silk and the making of coarse glass. A large trade is carried on
by rail and river with Lower Bengal. The tract south of the Ganges is
traversed by the loop-line of the East Indian railway, and there is also
a railway across the northern tract.
The DIVISION OF BHAGALPUR stretches across the Ganges from the Nepal
frontier to the hills of Chota Nagpur. It comprises the five districts
of Monghyr, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Darjeeling, and the Santal Parganas. The
total area is 19,776 sq. m.; and in 1901 the population was 8,091,405.
BHAMO, a town and district of Burma. The town was in ancient times the
capital of the Shan state of Manmaw, later the seat of a Burmese
governor. It is now the headquarters of a district in the Mandalay
division of Upper Burma (Chinese frontier). It is situated about 300 m.
up the river from Mandalay. It is the highest station on the Irrawaddy
held by British troops, and the nearest point on the river to the
Chinese frontier. In 1901 it contained 10,734 inhabitants, of whom a
considerable number were Chinamen, natives of India and Shan-Chinese. It
stretches for a distance of nearly 4 m. along the Irrawaddy bank in a
series of small villages, transformed into quarters of the town, but the
town proper is confined mainly to the one high ridge of land running at
right angles to the river. The surface of the ground is much cut up by
ravines which fill and dry up according to the rise and fall of the
river. When the Irrawaddy is at its height the lower portion of the town
is flooded, and the country all round is a sheet of water, but usually
for no very long time. Here or hereabouts has long been the terminus of
a great deal of the land commerce from China. For years after its
annexation by Great Britain in 1885 the trade routes were unsafe owing
to attacks from Kachins. These have now ceased, and the roads, which
were mere bridle-tracks, have been greatly improved. The two chief are
the so-called Santa and Ponlaing route, through Manyun (Manwaing) and
Nantien to Momein, and the southern or Sawadi route by way of Namhkam.
Cart roads are now being constructed on both routes, and that south of
the Taiping river could easily be continued through Manyun to Momein if
the Chinese should be induced to co-operate. There is a fairly large
military garrison in Bhamo distributed between two forts to the north
and east of the town. There are in general stationed here a native
regiment, two sections of a battery and the wing of a European regiment.
Besides the barracks there are a circuit house, dak bungalow,
courthouse, and post and telegraph offices. There is a branch railway
from Myitkyina to Katha, whence there is daily communication by river to
Bhamo.
The DISTRICT OF BHAMO lies wholly in the basin of the Irrawaddy, which,
as well as its tributaries, runs through the heart of it. On the east of
the river is the Shan plateau, running almost due north and south. West
of the Irrawaddy there is a regular series of ranges, enclosing the
basins of the Kaukkwe, Mosit, Indaw and other streams, down which much
timber is floated. Beyond the Kaukkwe there is a ridge of hills, which
starts at Leka, near Mogaung, and diverges to the south, the eastern
ridge dividing the Kaukkwe from the Mosit, and the western forming the
eastern watershed of the Nam Yin and running south into Katha. It is an
offshoot from the latter of these ridges that forms the third defile of
the Irrawaddy between Bhamo and Sinbo. The district covers an area of
4146 sq. m., and the population in 1901 was 79,515. It is mainly
composed of Shan-Burmese and Kachins. The Shan-Burmese inhabit the
valleys and alluvial plains on each side of the river. The Kachins, who
probably came from the sub-regions of the Himalayas, occupy the hills
throughout the district. There are also settlements of Shans,
Shan-Chinese, Chinese and Assamese. There are extensive fisheries in the
Shwegu and Mo-hnyin circles, and in the Indaw, a chain of lakes just
behind the Mosit, opposite Shwegu. The district abounds in rich teak
forests, and there are reserves representing 60,000 acres of teak
plantation. The whole of the country along the banks of the Irrawaddy,
the Mole, Taiping and Kaukkwe, is generally in a water-logged condition
during the rains. The climate in the district is therefore decidedly
malarious, especially at the beginning and end of the rains. From
November to March there is very bracing cold weather. The highest
temperatures range a few degrees over 100 deg. F. up to 106 deg., and
the lowest a few degrees under 40 deg. The average maximum for the year
is about 87 deg., the average minimum about 62 deg. The rainfall
averages 72 in. a year. (J. G. Sc.)
BHANDARA, a town and district of British India, in the Nagpur division
of the Central Provinces. The town (pop. in 1901, 14,023) is situated on
the left bank of the river Wainganga, 7 m. from a station on the
Bengal-Nagpur railway. It has considerable manufactures of cotton cloth
and brass-ware, and a first-grade middle school, with a library.
The DISTRICT OF BHANDARA has an area of 3965 sq. m. In 1901 the
population was 663,062, showing a decrease of 11% since 1891 compared
with an increase of 8% in the preceding decade. The district is bounded
on the N., N.E. and E. by lofty hills, inhabited by Gonds and other
aboriginal tribes, while the W. and N.W. are comparatively open. Small
branches of the Satpura range make their way into the interior of the
district. The Ambagarh or Sendurjhari hills, which skirt the south of
the Chandpur pargana, have an average height of between 300 and 400 ft.
above the level of the plain. The other elevated tracts are the Balahi
hills, the Kanheri hills and the Nawegaon hills. The Wainganga is the
principal river in the district, and the only stream that does not dry
up in the hot weather,--its affluents within the district being the
Bawanthari, Bagh, Kanhan and Chulban. There are 3648 small lakes and
tanks in Bhandara district, whence it is called the "lake region of
Nagpur"; they afford ample means of irrigation. More than one-third of
the district lies under jungle, which yields gum, medicinal fruit and
nuts, edible fruits, lac, honey and the blossoms of the _mahua_ tree
(_Bassia latifolia_), which are eaten by the poorer classes, and used
for the manufacture of a kind of spirit. Tigers, panthers, deer, wild
hogs and other wild animals abound in the forests, and during the rainy
season many deaths occur from snake-bites. Iron is the chief mineral
product. Gold is also found in the bed of the Sone river. Laterite,
shale and sandstone occur all over the district. Native cloth, brass
wares, pot-stone wares, cartwheels, straw and reed baskets, and a small
quantity of silk, form the only manufactures. The principal crops are
rice, wheat, millet, other food-grains, pulse, linseed, and a little
sugar-cane. The district is traversed by the main road from Nagpur to
the east, and also by the Bengal-Nagpur railway. It suffered in the
famine of 1896-1897, and yet more severely in 1900.
Bhandara district contains 25 semi-independent chiefships. These little
states are exempted from the revenue system, and only pay a light
tribute. Their territory, however, is included within the returns of
area and population above given. The climate of Bhandara is
unhealthy,--the prevailing diseases being fever, small-pox and cholera.
Nothing is known of the early history of the district. Tradition says
that at a remote period a tribe of men, called the Gaulis or Gaulars,
overran and conquered it. At the end of the 17th century it belonged to
the Gond raja of Deogarh. In 1743 it was conquered by the Mahrattas, who
governed it till 1853, when it lapsed to the British government, the
raja of Nagpur having died without an heir.
BHANG, an East Indian name for the hemp plant, _Cannabis sativa_ (see
HEMP), but applied specially to the leaves dried and prepared for use as
a narcotic drug. In India the products of the plant for use as a
narcotic and intoxicant are recognized under the three names and forms
of Bhang, Gunja or Ganja, and Churrus or Charas. Bhang consists of the
larger leaves and capsules of the plant on which an efflorescence of
resinous matter has occurred. The leaves are in broken and partly
agglutinated pieces, having a dark-green colour and a heavy but not
unpleasant smell. Bhang is used in India for smoking, with or without
tobacco; it is prepared in the form of a cake or manjan, and it is made
into an intoxicating beverage by infusing in cold water and straining.
Gunja is the flowering or fruit-bearing tops of the female plants. It is
gathered in stalks of several inches in length, the tops of which form a
matted mass, from the agglutination of flowers, seeds and leaflets by
the abundant resinous exudation which coats them. Churrus is the crude
resinous substance separated from the plant. The use of preparations of
hemp among the Mussulman and Hindu population of India is very general;
and the habit also obtains among the population of central Asia, the
Arabs and Egyptians, extending even to the negroes of the valley of the
Zambezi and the Hottentots of South Africa. The habit appears to date
from very remote times, for Herodotus says of the Scythians, that they
creep inside huts and throw hemp seeds on hot stones.
BHARAHAT, or BARHUT, a village in the small state of Nagod in India,
lying about 24 deg. 15' N. by 80 deg. 45' E., about 120 m. S.W. of
Allahabad. General A. Cunningham discovered there in 1873 the remains of
a _stupa_ (i.e. a burial mound over the ashes of some distinguished
person) which were excavated, in 1874, by his assistant, J.D. Beglar.
The results showed that it must have been one of the most imposing and
handsome in India; and it is especially important now from the large
number of inscriptions found upon it. The ancient name of the place has
not been yet traced, but it must have been a considerable city and its
site lay on the high road between the ancient capitals of Ujjeni and
Kosambi. The _stupa_ was circular, 70 ft. in diameter and 42 ft. high.
It was surrounded by a stone railing 100 ft. in diameter, so that
between railing and _stupa_ there was an open circle round which
visitors could walk; and the whole stood towards the east side of a
paved quadrangle about 300 ft. by 320 ft., surrounded by a stone wall.
On the top of the _stupa_ was an ornament shaped like the letter T, and
as the base of the _stupa_ was above the quadrangle, the total height of
the monument was between 50 and 60 ft. But its main interest, to us,
lies in the railing. This consisted of eighty square pillars, 7 ft. 1
in. in height, connected by cross-bars about 1 ft. broad. Both pillars
and cross-bars were elaborately carved in bas-relief, and most of them
bore inscriptions giving either the name of the donor, or the subject of
the bas-relief, or both. There were four entrances through the railing,
facing the cardinal points, and each one protected by the railing coming
out at right angles, and then turning back across it in the shape of the
letter L. This gave the whole ground plan of the monument, and no doubt
designedly so, the shape of a gigantic _swastika_ (i.e. a symbol of good
fortune). By the forms of the letters of the inscriptions, and by the
architectural details, the age of the monument has been approximately
fixed in the 3rd century B.C. The bas-reliefs give us invaluable
evidence of the literature, and also of the clothing, buildings and
other details of the social conditions of the peoples of Buddhist India
at that period. The subjects are taken from the Buddhist sacred books,
more especially from the accounts given in them of the life of the
Buddha in his last or in his previous births. Unfortunately, only about
half the pillars, and about one-third of the cross-bars have been
recovered. When the _stupa_ was discovered the villagers had already
carried off the greater part of the monument to build their cottages
with the stones and bricks of it. The process has gone on till now
nothing is left except what General Cunningham found and rescued and
carried off to Calcutta. Even the mere money value of the lost pieces
must be immense, and among them is the central relic box, which would
have told us in whose honour the monument was put up.
See A. Cunningham, _The Stupa of Bharhut_ (London, 1879); T.W. Rhys
Davids, _Buddhist India_ (London, 1903). (T. W. R. D.)
BHARAL, the Tatar name for the "blue sheep" _Ovis_ (Pseudois) _nahura_,
of Ladak and Tibet. The general colour is blue-grey with black "points"
and white markings and belly; and the horns of the rams are olive-brown
and nearly smooth, with a characteristic backward curvature. In the
absence of face-glands, as well as in certain other features, the bharal
serves to connect more typical sheep (q.v.) with goats.
BHARATPUR, or BHURTPORE, a native state of India, in the Rajputana
agency. Its area covers 1982 sq. m. The country is generally level,
about 700 ft. above the sea. Small detached hills, rising to 200 ft. in
height, occur, especially in the northern part. These hills contain good
building stone for ornamental architecture, and in some of them iron ore
is abundant. The Banganga is the only river which flows through the
state. It takes its rise at Manoharpur in the territory of Jaipur, and
flowing eastward passes through the heart of the Bharatpur state, and
joins the Jamna below Agra.
Bharatpur rose into importance under Suraj Mall, who bore a conspicuous
part in the destruction of the Delhi empire. Having built the forts of
Dig and Kumbher in 1730, he received in 1756 the title of raja, and
subsequently joined the great Mahratta army with 30,000 troops. But the
misconduct of the Mahratta leader induced him to abandon the
confederacy, just in time to escape the murderous defeat at Panipat.
Suraj Mall raised the Jat power to its highest point; and Colonel Dow,
in 1770, estimated the raja's revenue (perhaps extravagantly) at
L2,000,000 and his military force at 60,000 or 70,000 men. In 1803 the
East India Company concluded a treaty, offensive and defensive, with
Bharatpur. In 1804, however, the raja assisted the Mahrattas against the
British. The English under Lord Lake captured the fort of Dig and
besieged Bharatpur, but were compelled to raise the siege after four
attempts at storming. A treaty, concluded on the 17th of April 1805,
guaranteed the raja's territory; but he became bound to pay L200,000 as
indemnity to the East India Company. A dispute as to the right of the
succession again led to a war in 1825, and Lord Combermere captured
Bharatpur with a besieging force of 20,000 men, after a desperate
resistance, on the 18th of January 1826. The fortifications were
dismantled, the hostile chief being deported to Benares, and an infant
son of the former raja installed under a treaty favourable to the
company. In 1853 the Bharatpur ruler died, leaving a minor heir. The
state came under British management, and the administration was
improved, the revenue increased, a system of irrigation developed, new
tanks and wells constructed and an excellent system of roads and public
buildings organized. Owing to the hot winds blowing from Rajputana, the
climate of Bharatpur is extremely sultry till the setting in of the
periodical rains.
In 1901 the population was 626,665, a decrease of 2%. The estimated
revenue is L180,000. The maharaja Ram Singh, who succeeded his father in
1893, was deprived of power of government in 1895 on the ground of
intemperate conduct; and in 1900 was finally deposed for the murder of
one of his personal attendants. He was succeeded by his infant son
Kishen Singh. During his minority the administration was undertaken by a
native minister, together with a state council, under the general
superintendence of the political agent. Imperial service cavalry are
maintained. The state is traversed for about 40 m. by the Rajputana
railway.
The CITY OF BHARATPUR is 34 m. W. of Agra by rail. The population in
1901 was 43,601, showing a decrease of over 23,000 in the decade. The
immense mud ramparts still stand. It has a handsome palace, a new
hospital and a high school. There are special manufactures of _chauris_,
or flappers, with handles of sandalwood, ivory or silver, and tails also
made of strips of ivory or sandalwood as fine as horse-hair.
BHATGAON, a town of Nepal, 8 m. from Khatmandu. It is a celebrated place
of Hindu superstition, the favourite residence of the Brahmans of Nepal,
and contains more families of that order than either Khatmandu or Patan.
It has a population of about 30,000, and its palace and buildings
generally are of a more striking appearance than in other Nepalese
towns. The town is said to possess many Sanskrit libraries.
BHATTIANA, a tract of country in the Punjab province of India, covering
the Ghaggar valley from Fatehabad in the district of Hissar to Bhatnair
in Bikanir. It derives its name from the Bhattis, a wild Rajput clan,
who held the country lying between Hariana, Bikanir and Bahawalpur. It
skirts the borders of the great sandy desert, and only contains a small
and scattered population. This tract was ravaged by Timur in his
invasion of India; and in 1795 paid a nominal allegiance to George
Thomas, the adventurer of Hariana. After the victories of Lord Lake in
1803 it passed with the rest of the Delhi territory under British rule,
but was not settled until 1810. A district of Bhattiana was formed in
1837, but in 1858 it was merged in the Sirsa district, which was divided
up in 1884. The Bhattis number some 350,000, and are a fine tall race,
making capital soldiers.
BHAU DAJI (RAMKRISHNA VITHAL) (1822-1874), Hindu physician of Bombay,
Sanskrit scholar and antiquary, was born in 1822 at the village of
Manjare, in the native state of Sawantwari, of humble parents dealing in
clay dolls. Dr Bhau's career is a striking instance of great results
arising from small accidents. An Englishman noticing his cleverness at
chess induced his father to give the boy an English education.
Accordingly Bhau was brought to Bombay and was educated at the
Elphinstone Institution. He relieved his father of the cost of his
education by winning many prizes and scholarships, and on his father's
death two years later he cheerfully undertook the burden of supporting
his mother and a brother (Narayen), who also in after-life became a
distinguished physician and surgeon. About this time he gained a prize
for an essay on infanticide, and was appointed a teacher in the
Elphinstone Institution. He began to devote his time to the study of
Indian antiquities, deciphering inscriptions and ascertaining the dates
and history of ancient Sanskrit authors. He then studied at the Grant
Medical College, and was one of the first batch who graduated there in
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