Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/353

 BARE BARRAOKPOOR 333 six cantons. II. A city, capital of the state, on a river of the same name, 70 m. from the sea, and 155 m. W. S.W. of Caracas; pop. about 11,000. It was founded in 1552 by Juan de Villegas, who first called it Nueva Segovia. It is situated 1,719 feet above the level of the sea. A terrible earthquake in 1812 scarcely left a house standing; but the city has since been handsomely rebuilt. It is conveniently situated for commerce, as several important roads from the west converge here. There are a college, seminary, and numerous other schools. Excel- lent coffee and fine cacao are produced in abun- dance. The city was frequently occupied by the belligerents during the war of independence, and the scene of much bloodshed. BIRR, a town of Germany, in Alsace, at the foot of the Vosges mountains, and at the en- trance into the picturesque Ulric valley, 18 m. S. W. of Strasburg ; pop. in 1871, 5,651. It has manufactories of soap and of woollen, cotton, china, pottery, and crystal ware; it also has a brisk trade in wine, iron, wood, and cattle. The place is mentioned in the 8th century. In 1592 it was totally destroyed by the troops of the cardinal of Lorraine. Above the town rises Mount Odilia (2,521 ft.), on which St. Odil- ia, the daughter of Duke Attic of Alsace, established a celebra- ted monastery, which was sold during the French revolution. BIRR, or Barra, a small kingdom of W. Africa, near the mouth of the Gambia, extending along the N". bank of the river about 50 m. ; pop. estimated at 200,000. This kingdom was founded by a Man- dingo warrior from the interior, who overran the country, and afterward kept his hold of it by means of arms procured from Europeans in exchange for slaves. The free Mandingoes con- stitute only a quarter of the population, and are described as a well made, industrious, and shrewd race, all zealous Mohammedans. The remainder of the population are in slavery. BARRA (or BARRA Y) ISLANDS, a group of about 20 islands, forming a parish of the same name, on the W. coast of Scotland, belonging to the chain known as the Outer Hebrides. The prin- cipal island, from which the rest are named, is about 8 m. long, and from 2 to 4 m. wide ; pop. about 1,600, chiefly Roman Catholics. It contains the ruins of several very old religious houses. At a place called Kilbar are the re- mains of two churches said to have been built by the monks of Icolmkill, and at various points throughout the island stand ancient watch towers. Druidical circles are found in many places, and a dun or fort, supposed to have been built by the Scandinavians, is on every lake. In the middle of a beautiful bay, on a small rock entirely covered by the tide at high water, stands the ancient castle of the Mac Neils. On Barra is the highest lighthouse in Britain, 680 ft. above the sea. BARRACKPOOR, a town and military canton- ment of Bengal, on the E. bank of the Hoogly, about 10 m. N. N. E. of Calcutta. It is a fa- vorite retreat for the Europeans of Calcutta, and contains the country residence of the gov- ernor general. The town itself is irregularly built, most of the houses being bungalows, em- bosomed among lofty trees, and the country around is profusely wooded. It possesses a park of 250 acres, with a fine collection of Indian zoology, and a stud of elephants, main- Barrackpoor. tained mainly for the recreation of the guests of the governor general. Barrackpoor is noted as the place in which the first blood was shed in the sepoy mutiny. The town was a convenient station for military operations in the eastern part of Bengal, and for any sudden emergency at Calcutta. Four native regi- ments, with European officers, were stationed there. Discontent had arisen among the men, who supposed that the new cartridges issued to them were greased with animal fat, and one regiment was disbanded in February, 1857. On March 29 an armed sepoy marched about, declaring that he would shoot the first Euro- pean he met. He wounded a European lieu- tenant, and a native officer refused to arrest him. Both were afterward arrested, tried by court-martial, and executed April 5; and a few days later the regiment to which they be- longed was disbanded. After the suppression of the mutiny extensive barracks were erected here for British troops.