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* PORTLAND. 271 immense convict prison with accommodations for 1500 prisoners, built in 1848. The Portland Breakwater (see Breakwater) affords a safe harbor of refuge. Population, in 1891 9443- in nm. 15.202. PORTLAND CANAL. A long and narrow fiord indenting the west coast of Xorth America opposite Queen Charlotte Islands (Map: Alaska, J 4) -I It extends northeastward for about SO niiles inland, is very deep, and inclosed by precip- itous cliffs and by mountains from 3000 to 6000 feet high. It forms the extreme southern bound- ary of Alaska, which it separates from British Columbia. PORTLAND CEMENT. See Cehext. PORTLAND VASE. A beautiful vase of transparent dark-blue glass, coated with opaque white glass, which has been cut away so as to resemble a cameo. The scenes on the vase have as yet found no satisfactory explana- tion. It was discovered in a large marble sar- cophagus, of the third century of our era. which was found at Rome about the middle of the six- teenth century, and had contained the ashes of the dead. Its style, however, shows that it be- longs to an earlier period, probably the first cen- tury B.C. It was at first deposited in the Bar- berini Palace in Rome, but was ( 1770) purchased by Sir William Hamilton, and finallv by the Duchess of Portland. In 1810 the "Duke of Portland lent it to the British Museum. In 184.5 an insane visitor to the museum dashed it to pieces with a stone, but the fragments were so skillfully united that the damage is scarcely perceptible. It was copied by Wedgwood (q.v.) in his new style of pottery. 'Consult: J. Wedg- wood. The. Portland Va.ie. edited bv Windus (London. 1845) ; Friedriehs-Wolters, Die aipsab- giisse antiker BiMwerke, Xos. 2008, 2009 (Ber- lin, 1SS5). PORT LODIS, loo'is or loo'e. The capital and principal port of the British colony of Mauritius, situated on an inlet on the northwest coast ( Map : Africa, K 7 ) . It is well built, with straight, though narrow, streets. Its most notable buildings and institutions are the Roman Catholic and Protestant cathedrals, a library, a theatre, an observatory, and a botanical garden. Its harbor is capacious and defended by forts. By far the larger part of the trade of Mauritius passes through Port Louis, and a railway line connects the city with the southern and eastern parts of the island. The population is decreas- ing, and the Indian and Chinese elements are becoming prominent at the expense of the Euro- peans, though the latter still include more than half of the inhabitants. Population, in 1891, 62.040; in 1901, 52,740. PORT MAHON, ma-hon'. or simplv :ilAH6N. The chief to™ of the island of Minorca, and one of the principal seaports of Spain, situated at the head of a bay on the east coast of the island (Miip: Spain, H 3). It is a pleasant town with straight and regular streets, and manv of its houses are built in the English stvle. The most notable buildings are the consistorial palace, the civil and military hospital, the fine Coliseum Theatre, and a church containing a magnificent organ. The town has a high school, a public li- brary, and a museum. There are some manufac- tures of cotton textiles and leather goods, but PORT OF SPATU. the chief importance of the town is derived from its fine harbor, which is one of the best in the iXediterranean. It has a large anchoring space, and is provided with a long quav accessible for the largest ships. Its situation makes it a con- venient port of call between Fi-ance and Algiers : It is also an important naval station, and its for- tifications have recently been strengthened. Its trade amounts to over" .$1,000,000 annuallv; its chief exports are live stock and agricultural products. Population, in 1887, 18,445; in 1900, li,9iD. Mahon is supposed to have been founded by the Carthaginian general Mago, and its Ro- man name was Partus JIagonis. It was in the possession of the English during the greater part of the eighteenth century. PORT NATAL, natal'. The seaport of Dur- ban (q.v.) in South Africa. PORTO ALEGRE, por'to a-la'gre. The capi- tal of the State of Rio Cirande do .Sul Brazil situated at the mouth of the .Jacuhv River at the' northern extremity of the Lagoa dos Patos (Map: Brazil, K 7 I . It is one of the cleanest and best built cities of Brazil, and has straight streets, and several large squares on one of which, the Praca de Dom Pedro, stand the Government building and the house of the Legislature. Other notable buikluigs are the cathedral, the theatre of Dom Pedro, and the custom-house. The citv has a high school, a normal school, a theological seminary, and a school of engineering. It is the chief out- let for the products of the northern part of the State, and is connected with the interior by rail- road. Its trade, however, is endangered by the rapid sanding up of the Rio Grande, the outlet of the lagoon, and extensive engineering works will be necessary to make the harbor of the city accessible to large vessels. The export trade, which is chiefly with Germany, the United States, and Cireat Britain, amounts "to about $3,000,000 annually, the chief articles exported being beef, salt pork, lard, hides, and flour. Xear the city- is a coal mine yielding over 16,000 tons annually. Population, in 1890, 52,421; in 1900 (estimated"), 100,000. P0R'T0BELT:,0. a popular watering-place on the Firth of Forth, three miles east of Edin- burgh. Scotland (ilap: Scotland. E 4). Its manufacturing establishments comprise potteries and earthenware, bottle, brick, and paper works, etc., but it is chiefly noted as a favorite summer resort for sea-bathing. It has a commodious to«-n hall, a marine promenade, and a spacious amusement pavilion. Population, in 1891. 8181- in 1901, 9200. PORTO EMPEDOCLE, por'to em-pa'do-kla. A city on the southern coast of Sicilv, six miles by rail southwest of Girgenti (q.v. ),"of which it is the seaport. It was formerly called :Mo1o di Girgenti. The merchants of Girgenti have here great storehouses hevm in the rock for sulphur and for grain. The harbor is 26 feet deep, has a lighthouse, and is protected by a mole over a mile long. Population (commune), in I90I. 11,- 529. PORTO FERRAJO, fer-rii'vo. The chfcf tovn of the island of Elba (q.v.). PORT OF SPAIN. The capital of the British "Oest Indian island of Trinidad, situated on the western coast of the island (Map: West Indies, R 9 ). It is considered one of the finest towns in