Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/547

 BENI BENIN 527 lying between lat. 9 and 16 S. and Ion. 12 and 17 E., and extending from the river Coanza on the north to near Cape Negro on the south. The land along the coast is low and flat, but it rises in a series of terraces toward the inte- rior, and further back into mountains of con- siderable height. The low ground near the coast, especially during the rainy season, is extremely unwholesome. On the high ground and among the mountains the air is pure and healthful. Numerous rivers descend from the mountains ; of these the Copororo or Rio San Francisco, the Cuvo, and the Longa are the most important. Sulphur, copper, and petro- leum are found in the mountains, and also gold and silver in small quantities. Vegetation is luxuriant, and both tropical fruits and Eu- ropean vegetables grow well. Hyamas and lions venture down to the city of Benguela. Elephants, butfaloes, zebras, antelopes, and other animals are found. Cattle are not raised to any great extent. The inhabitants belong to the Congo race, and use the Bunda lan- guage. They are naturally harmless, but have become brutalized where they have come in contact with the Portuguese slave traders. Their religion is a form of fetishism. The chief towns are Benguela, Caconda (in the interior), Novo Redondo, and Mossamedes. Mossamedes is the residence of the governor of South Ben- guela, and was founded in 1840. It is favor- ably situated and prosperous. II. Sao FUp de Bengnfla, the Portuguese capital of the country, is situated on the coast near the mouth of the river Catumbela, in lat. 12 83' S., Ion. 13 25' E. ; pop. 3,000. It is so unhealthful that no Europeans can withstand the climate. It is especially fatal to women. The most unwhole- some months are March and April, the rainy months, and next to them January and May. The harbor is commodious and safe, but diffi- cult of access. Ivory, panther skins, and the other productions of the country are brought into the city, and it is visited occasionally by Portuguese and Brazilian trading vessels. The city was formerly the principal slave market for the trade with Brazil. It is under the ju- risdiction of the governor general of Angola, who resides at St. Paul de Loanda. 1!KI, or Venl, a department of Bolivia, trav- ersed by the river Beni, and embracing the lofty mountains and immense wooded plains which cover the northern portion of the re- public. These plains are watered by large rivers, which during the floods overflow their banks, inundating and fertilizing the surround- ing regions. Its capital is Trinidad, and it is divided into the three provinces of Mqjos, Yura- cares, and Caupolican. The probable area is 150,000 sq. m., with perhaps 54,000 inhabit- ants of European origin, besides some 10,000 Indians, but few of whom are civilized. Gold is found in some parts along the banks of the Beni. Large quantities of coca are produced, and some of the European grains and fruits. The climate is temperate and hi winter even cold. BENI, T*ni, or Paro, a river of Bolivia, formed by a number of head streams rising in the Andes, N. W. of Cochabamba. After flowing N. W. 300 m., and receiving the waters of the Queloto, Tipuani, Mapuri, and other large rivers, it bends, and holds a N. E. course to the frontier of Brazil, where it swells the united streams of the Mamor6 and Itenez to form the Madeira, the principal tributary of the Amazon. The whole valley of the Beni not having been yet explored, little else is known than that the river waters extensive plains of great fertility in the departments of La Paz and Beni. liKVK AKLO. a town of Spain, in the province of Castellon, on the Mediterranean, 80 m. N. E. of Valencia, on the railroad to Barcelona ; pop. about 7,000. It is surrounded by walls, and has a ruined castle, a fishing port, and a church with an octangular tower. It is an ill- bnilt and dirty town, chiefly noted for the red and full-flavored wine produced in the neigh- borhood, which is largely exported to Bor- deaux, to enrich poor clarets for the English and American market. BENICIA, a town, capital of Solano co., Cali- fornia, and formerly of the state, on the strait of Carquinez, which connects San Pablo and Snisun bays, 30 m. E. N. E. of San Francisco ; pop. in 1870, 1,656. The land for about a mile from the town is level or gently undulating. The valleys are capable of cultivation, but in and around the town there is not a tree to be seen. The houses are of wood, and present a neat and respectable appearance. The harbor is capable of accommodating the largest ships. It is connected with San Francisco by regular lines of steamers. Arrangements have been made (1872) for the construction of a railroad from Benicia up the Sacramento river to Red Bluff, with a branch to Sacramento. It has extensive cement works, tanneries, and a large flouring mill. The place contains the government depot of arms and supplies for the military stations on the Pacific coast, and has extensive barracks, storehouses, magazines, and shops for the manufacture and repair of army material. It has also a law school, a collegiate institute, St. Augustine's theological school (Episcopal), with 6 professors and 7 students, a convent, a female seminary with 8' instructors and 45 students, and a Catholic and an Episco- pal church. BENIN. I. A kingdom of Africa, on the Guinea coast, bounded N. W. by Yoruba, W. by Egba, E. and S. E. by the Niger and its E. branch, the Bonny. The name was for- merly applied to the whole of the coast of the gulf of Guinea, and the kingdom was supposed to be very large and powerful. The coast is low, swampy, and cut up by numerous arms of the Niger. The soil is fruitful, yielding rice, yams, sugar, and in general all the products of Guinea. Palm trees grow luxuriantly. The population is dense. The king is worshipped as fetish. The chief towns are Benin and Wari 86 VOL. ii. 34