Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/393

AYUTHIA. ruins, and overgrown with an almndance of trop- ical vegetation, amid which piles of masonry, sculptured masses, hronze statues, and spires may he discerned. In the days of its glory it was 9 miles in circumference, and within its walls were different quarters, in which dwelt foreigners, who came for trade from many coun- tries — Chinese, JIalays, Portuguese, Japanese, and various Asiatics. The most conspicuous structure, 400 feet high, huilt in the form of a pyramid and surmounted by a domed spire, is called the "Golden Jlount.' At one time, when trade was lively between Japan and Siam, it is believed that no fewer than 700, possibly 7000, Japanese dwelt at A^iithia, 500 of them serving as niercenary soldiers to resist the Burmese. These Japanese formed part of the bodyguard, and took part in the palace revoluti<m of 1033. The city was also the scene of the missionary labors of the Portuguese, and of a bloody battle between the Dutch and the English — one of the incidents which led to the naval wars of the Sev- enteenth Century. Population, about 50,000.

AYVAZOVSKI, I'va-zof'ske, Ivan Konstan- riNOvnt'H ( 1S17-11I00). A Russian painter, born at Feodosia, in the Crimea. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Saint Petersburg, and under Philippe Tanneur, traveled widely in Eu- rope, and exhibited from 1847. His marine pic- tures are generally esteemed his best work. At the Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1803), AjTazovski exliibited a series of paintings deal- ing with the discovery of America by Columbus, which were greatly admired. His canvases for the most part display brilliant efl'ects, but have been criticised for their extremely ornate treat- ment and their exaggeration of color. A list of liis more important pictures includes: "Sun- rise on the Black Sea" (18.50); "The Deluge" (1865): "Calm Sea:" "Naples by Moonlight;" and several views of storms at sea.

AZALEA (Gk. dfaX^os, <i::<ileos, dry, so called because supposed to grow best in dry ground). A genus of plants belonging to the natural order Ericaccfe (heath family). Some botanists unite the genus Azalea to Rhododen- dron. One of the species best deserving of no- tice is Azalea ponticu, a shrub from 3 to 5 feet high, a native of the countries around the Black Sea, with large obovate or oblong, lanceolate shin- ing leaves and umbellate yellow flowers, which are externally covered with glutinous hairy glands, and are very fragrant. It covers many mountain slopes, but does not ascend to great ilcvalions, giving place to the more alpine Rlio- ilmlrndron iioiiticiiiii. It is common in gardens
 * nid shrubberies in Britain, and varies with

orange, red, and almost white flowers. The whole plant is narcotic and poisonous. North America abounds in azaleas as well as in rhododendrons, and some of the species have been long cultivated in Great Britain, particularly Azalea niidiflora and Azalea risicosa. which, with Azalea pontiea, have become the parents of many hybrids. The former has pink, the latter ])ure white flowers, of delightful fragrance. Azalra risrosa has the flowers covered with glutinous hairs like Azalea pontiea: but the flowers of Azalea iiiidifleira are nearly destitute of them. Both species abound from Canada to the southern parts of the I'nited States (the latter is sometimes known by the, ic-mmon name of honevsuckle) . Azalea arbo- resceiis, a mountainous -rpccics, from 3 to 10 feet high, has large rose-colored flowers. Azalea ealendulacca, a native of the southern parts of the I'nitcd Slates, is described as frequently clotliing the mountains with a robe of living scarlet. India and China produce several species of azalea, of which one of the finest is Azalea iiuliea, well known as a greenhouse shrub. Its flowers exhibit great brilliancy of colors. Many hybrids exist between it and the more hardy species. Another extremely beautiful species is Azalea liliflora, an evergreen introduced from China.

AZANCHEVSKY, a'zan-chyef'ske, JIichael VON (1838-81). A Russian composer. He was born in Moscow, studied under Riehter and Hauptmann at Leipzig, and was director of the Conservator}' at Saint Petersburg from 1870 to 1870. He was the owner of a noteworthy musical library, and was an acknowledged authority in general music. Among his many com])ositions are a fionala in B Minor for pianoforte and violoncello; a Trio in F f^harp Minor for piano- forte and stings and a First Polonaise for two pianofortes.

AZARA, a-thii'ra, Felix de (I74G-1811). A Spanish soldier, naturalist, and traveler. He was born at Barbunales, in Aragon, was educated at the University of Huesca, obtained a commission in the Spanish Army, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general. He was severely wounded in the attack u]ion Algiers. In 1781 he was ap- pointed one of the commissioners for fixing the boundaries of the Spanish and Portuguese pos- sessions in South America. He did not return to Spain till 1801, when he published an account of his travels in his Voyage dans I'Ameriijue merid- ionule (ISOfl), and an important work on quad- rupeds and birds, inider the modest title of T^otes on the Xatural History of Paragtiai/ and La Plata (1802).

AZAKA, .Tosfi NicoLO de (1731-1804). A Spanish diplomat, born at Barbunales, Aragon, a brother of Felix de Azara. He studied at the uni- versities of Huesca and Salamanca, and in 17(55 was appointed Spanish Envoy at the Papal Court. Here he exercised a very considerable in- fluence, and was concerned with the suppression of the Jesuit Order in 1773, and with the election of Pius VI. Subsequently he was sent on mis- sions to Paris and Barcelona. He was known as a patron of art. editeil the works of his friend Mengs, with a biography (1780), and translated (1702) iliddleton's Life of Cieero.

AZARA'S DOG (or FOX). See Fox-Dog.

AZ'ARI'AH (Heb., the Lord helps). The name of a number of biblical personages, no less than twenty-four being found. (1) The most important of these is Azariah, the son of Oded, a prophet who, by his exhortation of Asa, King of .Tudah, brought about a religious reform (II. Chron. xv. 1-8 1. Of the same name were at least four high-priests at various times. (2) In the reign of Solomon (I. Kings, iv. 2) ; (3) in the reign of Asa (I. Chron. vi. 10) ; (4) in the reign of LTzziah (II. Chron. xxvi. 16-20) ; (5) in the reign of Hezekiah (II. Chron. xxxi. 10), who helped the King in the purification of the Temple. (6) Another Azariah, of the tribe of Fphraim. was one of four who sided with the prophet Oded, when he preached against the Israelites for attempting to make captives of