Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/19

VANCOUVER ISLAND. has two railways. There are about 10,000 In- dians — the Wakash. Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, with a popuhition of 20,816 in 1901, is situated at the southeastern end of the island.

Vancouver was discovered in 1774 by tluan Francisco de la Bodegay Quadra, and in 1792 was circumnavigated by George Vancouver, whence its name. The United States laid <'laim to it, but relinquished it under the Oregon Boundary Treaty in 1840. At the instance of Great Britain the Hudson's Bay t'ompany agreed to vacate the island for ten years, in order that settlers might enter. As a result it w-as made a colony at the end of that time, and in 1800 it was united with British Columbia.

VANDA (Neo-Lat., from Skt. vandana, para- sitic plant). A genus of plants of the natural order Orehidacefp. The species, which are gen- erally epiphytic, are well supplied with foliage and grow vigorously. In most species the ilowers are large and richl^y colored. Vanda suavis, one of the most remarkable species, has large fra- grant white or yellow flowers with a violet lip. ^'anda cwrulea is highly prized for its panicles of azure flowers. Several other species are culti- vated in greenhouses. They are propagated by removing the upper portion of the plants with a few roots and planting it separately. A dense shade, a moist atmosphere, and careful watering are required to establish the new plants.

VANDA'LIA. The county-seat of Fayette County, 111., 69 miles northeast of Saint Louis, Mo.; on the Kaskaskia River, and at the junction of the Vandalia and the Illinois Central rail- roads (Map: Illinois, C 5). The old State Hoiise is the most prominent feature of the city. Vandalia is of considerable importance as the shipping centre of a farming and stock-raising section, and has a foundry, a tarring plant, a paper mill, a manufactor}' of butchers' blocks, stave and wagon factories, and a brick yard. The water-works arc owned and operated by the municipality. Vandalia was settled about 1816, and from 1818 to 18.36 was the capital of the State. Population, in 1800, 2144; in 1900, 2605.

VAN'DALS (Lat. Vandali, rinduli, rindili, probably connected with Goth, tcandjaii, OHG. loentan, Ger. icenden, AS. jrendnn, Eng. trend, to turn, go). An ancient Germanic people. Pro- copius states that they originally occupied the country about the Pahis Mccotis (Sea of Azov), but it would appear that afterwards they mi- grated to the northwest, and settled south of the Baltic, between the rivers Vistula and Vindua (Oder). They make their first appearance in history in the second century A.D., at which time they inhabited the region to the northeast of the Eiesengebirge, and figure as the associates of the Marcomanni and Quadi in the plundering expedi- tions into Pannonia, and the wars with Jlarcns Anrelius. In the latter half of the third century they are foimd in the Roman province of Dacia, along with Goths and GepidiE. According to .Tor- danes, the Gothic King Geberic annihilated a large part of the nation on the banks of the Maros. The remainder were transplanted by Con- stantine to Pannonia (about a.d. .3.34). where they lived in peace for sixty years. But at the be- ginning of the fifth century, ui'ged. it is said, by Stilicho, they abandoned their new homes, and in company with the Suevi, Alani, and Burgundians, led by their King, Godegisil, burst into Gaul, which they wasted for the space of three years. Thence they swept through the passes of the Pyrenees into Spain, wlii<'h experienced a similar fate; and finally, after nuich quarreling and fighting with their German associates, they settled in a part of Bictica. which received from them the name of ^'^nd(llilia (modern Aiidulu- sia). In 429, at the call of lionifaeius. Roman governor of Africa, they crossed the strait of (Gib- raltar, under their leader. Genseric (q.v.), in (me resistless horde ( numbering 50.000 to 80,000 in all ), carrying devastation and ruin from the shores of the Atlantic to the frontiers of Cyrene. The}' were joined by the Donatists (q.v.), a sect of African heretics, and being themselves Arians, they inflicted great cruelties upon the orthodox Christians. Meantime Bonifacius endeavored to undo his treachery. He marched .against the Vandals, but was defeated with considerable loss, and driven into Hippo (now lioitn). which he de- fended for more than fourteen months. Re- cnforced by a Byzantine army under Aspar, he sallied out against the Vandals, and a second de- feat decided the fate of Africa. In 4.39 Cienserie broke the peace which he had concluded with Valentinian III. in 435, and conquered Carth- age. A new peace was established which recog- nized the authority of the Vandals over North Africa from the Atlantic to Cyrene, over the Balearic Isles. Sardinia, Corsica, and part of Sicily. In 455 the Vandals invaded Italy, and plundered Rome for fourteen days. After the death of Genseric (477). his son, Ilunneric. cruel- ly persecuted the Catholics. He warred against the Moorish races in North Africa, who were trying to recover their independence, and kept the Mediterranean in a state of alarm by his piracies. His successors, Guntamund (484-496) and Thras- amund (496-523). were comparatively mild and tolerant rulers. But the warm climate and the love of luxurious pleasure now began to enervate the spirit of the Vandals. Thrasamund was com- pelled to solicit aid from his brother-in-law, The- odoric (q.v.). who sent a Gothic contingent to him to help him against the Moors of Tripoli. After his death, Hilderic (523-5.30), a son of Hunneric, became ruler, but his sidijects grew discontented, and he was overthrown by his uncle, Gelimer, in 530. This led the Greek Emperor •Justinian to send an expedition, under Belisarius, against Gelimer. When the latter heard of the arrival of the B,yzantine general, he caused Hil- deric and his sons to be put to death, but was himself soon after forced to seek refuge in Nn- midia. In 533 he surrendered, was carried to Con- stantinople in triumph, and ended his life in Asia Minor. Most of the Vandals were drafted into the Imperial army, and were lost in the wars with Persia. The tew who remained in Africa rapidly disappeared among the natives. Con- sult: Papencordt. Gescluchtc der vandaVischen Herrschaft in Afrika (Berlin. 1837) ; Wrede, Die flin-ache der Tandalen (Strassburg, 1866).

VANDAMME, vaN'dam', Dominique RenS (1771-1830). A French general, born at Cassel (Nord). He enlisted at ilartinique in 1788. and, returning to France at the beginning of the Revolution, gained distinction as the commander of a free corps which he organized in 1792, and be-