Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/489

 BUSIIIKE BUSHMEN 483 grain, fruit, coal, &c. The gallon, which by act of parliament of George IV., c. 74, 7, is de- fined to determine its capacity, must contain 10 Ibs. avoirdupois of distilled water, weighed in air at a temperature of 62 F., the barometer being at 30 inches; or in bulk 277-274 cubic inches. The so-called imperial bushel, then, must contain 2,218-192 cubic inches. But if the goods measured are of a kind usually heaped, as potatoes, coal, &c., it was prescribed that the capacity, including the raised cone, should be 2,815 cubic inches. This rule was abolished by act of parliament of William IV. The Win- chester bushel was the standard before the im- perial from the time of Henry VII. (act of 1497). Its capacity was 2,150'42 cubic inches; its dimensions 18 inches internal diameter, and depth 8 inches. Heaped, the cone was to be not less than 6 inches high, making with a true cone its contents 2,747'70 cubic inches. The standard bushel of the United States and of the state of Nev York is the Winchester bushel of 2,150-42 cubic inches. I!l SHIRK, or Ahn-Shclir, a seaport town of Persia, in the province of Fars, on the N. E. coast of the Persian gulf, at the northern ex- tremity of a peninsula, to the north and east of which is the bay. The climate is extremely hot and unhealthy, producing various kinds of disease, especially of the eyes. In 1831 the plague made a fearful havoc among the popu- lation, which from 20,000 in previous years dwindled down to 5,000 or 6,000 in 1858; but the number has since somewhat increased. Besides many huts of palm wood outside of the gates, there are about 400 white stone houses in the town, which present an agreeable appearance from a distance ; and the badgirg, or ventilators, raised over the houses to the height of 100 feet, contribute to enhance this impression. The narrow streets, which are very numerous, are in a miserable condition. There are few handsome buildings in the town excepting the East India company's factory and the sheikh's palace. Bushire is the great emporium of Persia. Its merchants carry on an extensive trade with India, Russia, and Turkey, and supply almost all Persia with goods. The principal imports from India are steel, indigo, sugars, and spices. Manufac- tnred goods are imported from England and continental Europe, a British consular resident having long been maintained at Bushire. Many goods sent from Europe to India are thence exported to Bushire. The exports are raw silk, sheep's and goats' wool, horses, dried fruit, wine, grain, copper, turquoises, tobacco, yellow dye berries, asafnetida and various sorts of drugs, rose water, gall nuts, pearls, and other minor articles. The principal exports of manu- factured articles are carpets, shawls, velvets, silk goods, and gold and silver brocades. Cot- ton is extensively produced, and chiefly re- tained for home consumption, although some of it is exported to Russia and other countries. The groat route to the interior of Persia starts at Bushire, and is of great commercial and strategical importance. On the land side the town is fortified by a mud wall with round towers. In the war between England and Persia, Bushire became the basis of military operations, and was captured Dec. 9, 1856, at the very outset of the expedition. BUSHMEN (Dutch, Sosjegmans), a tribe of S. Africa, inhabiting both banks of the Orange river. The desert region occupied by them S. of the river is within the nominal limits of Cape Colony, and is designated as Great Bushman Land. The Bushmen resemble the Hottentots, but their figure is smaller and more spare, while their life of constant warfare and priva- tion has given them a crafty, savage look, at variance with the simple, stolid expression of the Hottent6ts. Their language resembles the