BALLENY ISLANDS. 



BALLYMBNA. 



Ml 



from Balkh, but none of the other canals extend o for, though the 

 water* at Home trickle half way down to the Oxua, and afford a supply 

 of water to the roving Turkoman*. The gentle elope of the land 

 toward* the Oxtu afford* great facilities for irrigating the country, 

 UM aoil of which U rich and productive, and will account for the 

 great population and vant fertility that once existed in this province. 

 Many of the canal* are scarcely now discoverable, being nearly choked 

 up. They frequently overflow and leave marshes, which may account 

 fur the unhealthiness of the country : intermittent fevers and rheu- 

 matism are very prevalent. In June the thermometer does not rise 

 above 80*. Wheat ripens in that month and the stalks grow as high 

 a* in England. The fruit of Balkh U moat luscious, particularly the 

 apricots, which are nearly as large as apple* ; a shilling will purchase 

 a thousand, and with iced water they are great luxuries, though 

 dangerous one*. Snow is brought in quantities from the mountains 

 south of Balkh. Persian coins as well as those of the emperors of 

 Hindustan are found among the ruins ; and it is remarkable that in 

 the countries north of the Hindu- Koosh the current coinage f tin 1 

 present time is that of the emperors of Delhi, who ruled prior to the 

 age of Nadir. The trees, fruit, and corn of Balkh have a great 

 celebrity, and its horses are equally famed. 



(Burnes's Trarelt into Bukhara, Ac.) 



BALLENY ISLANDS. [SOUTH POLAR COUNTRIES.] 



BALLINA, county of Mayo, Ireland, a seaport and post-town, and 

 the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Kilmoremoy and 

 barony of Tyrawley (with the suburb of Ardnaree, in the parish of 

 Kilmoremoy, barony of Tirero, and county of 'Sligo), is situated on 

 the Moy River, 7 miles above its embouchure in Killala Bay, hi 

 64 7' N. lat, 9" 10' W. long. ; 159 miles N.W. by W. from Dublin. 

 The population in 1841 was 7012 ; in 1851 the population was 5230, 

 (being 4647 in Mayo, and 583 in Sligo county) ; besides 1339 inmates of 

 the Union workhouse. Ballina Poor-Law Union comprises 20 electoral 

 diviaion*, with an area of 150,414 acres, and a population in 1841 of 

 62,284, in 1851 of 33,611. 



The two bridges which croea the Moy at Ballina are the leading means 

 of communication between the county of Sligo and the northern 

 baronies of Mayo. The situation is also favourable for the export of 

 agricultural produce. The town is modern, well built, and clean. On 

 the Mayo aide it consists chiefly of one street, running parallel to the 

 river, with cross street* diverging on the road* to Croaamolina and 

 Killala. There are here a court-house, and chapels for Baptists and 

 Wealeyan Methodists. On the Sligo side are the parish church and a 

 spacious gothic Roman Catholic chapel, which serves as a cathedral to 

 the Roman Catholic diocese of Killala. A brisk trade is carried on in 

 the export of agricultural produce. There is a very productive salmon 

 fishery. A fever hospital and a dispensary are in the town. Ballina 

 has a station of the constabulary force. Quarter and petty sessions ore 

 held ; there are fair* on May 12th, and August 12th. The surrounding 

 scenery is remarkably fine, having a fertile and very extensive plain 

 towards the sea, bounded on the south and east by the range of the Ox 

 Mountain* in Sligo, and on the west by Nephin Mountain (2646 feet), 

 and the highlands of Erris. Ten miles north-east of Ballina, near the 

 shore of Killala Bay, i* the ruined castle of Leacan, now called Castle 

 Forbes, remarkable a* having been the patrimony of the Mac Firbises, 

 who held it in virtue of their office a* hereditary scribes and historian* 

 of the ancient Irish territory of Hy-Fiochra. 



(Triba and CWonu of lly-t'iackra, Pubtitkfd by On Irish Archae- 

 ological Society, Dublin, 1844 ; Thorn's /rt'jA Almanack.) 



BALL1NAXLOK, counties of Oalway and Roscommon, Ireland, 

 in the parish of Kilclooney and barony of Clonmacnoon in the 

 former, and the pariah of Creagh, barony of Moycarn, in the latter, 

 i* a market and poet-town and the seat of a Poor-Law Union. The 

 town stand* on both banks of the river Suck, eight miles above the 

 confluence of that river with the Sh:um..n, in 53" 20' N. lilt, 8 11' 

 W. long; dinUiit from Dublin 01 mile* west by the high road, 

 M mile* by the line of the Orand Canal, of which it is the western 

 terminus, and 914 mile* by the Midland Great Western railway. 

 The population In 1841 wa* 4034 ; in 1851 it wn 4003, exclusive of 

 3487 persons in the Union workhouse. Ballinaaloe Poor-Law I'M-.': 

 comprises 86 electoral division*, with an area of 160,507 acres, and 

 a population in 1841 of 46,206, in 1861 of 80,060. 



The Suck at Ballinaaloe flows in several channel-, over which the 

 leading road from Athlone to Oalway i* carried by a luoceesion of 

 bridges and causeway* 500 yard* in length. On the Roeoomraon aide are 

 the remain* of a castle which formerly defended the bridge ; the 

 district lunatic asylum for Connaught is also situated here. The 

 principal part of the town stand* on the Oalway or right bank of 

 the river adjoining the demesne of the proprietor Karl Clonoarty. 

 Rallinacloe is celebrated for the great annual cattlenur win. I, '; 

 held here from the 5th to the th of October. There is also a con- 

 siderable wool-Mr on the 4th of July. Other fain are held on 

 March 27th and May 7th. The fair-green lie* between the town and 

 Earl Clanoarty's park. The horses and black cattle are here exposed 

 for sale; but the eheep-fair U hi-ld within the demesne ground* The 

 ambers of sheep and black cattle brought for sale to Ballinaaloe for 

 the fair of 1840 were 1,446, and 12,758 respectively. The town is 

 well built, clean, and provided with good shops and hotels. Ballinasloe 

 a head sou* town, particularly on the ride next the fair-green, 



which i* overlooked by a line of private dwelling-house*, having the 

 church, a gothic building with an elegant spire, in the luidxt The 

 Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, and Wesleyan and 1'rin 

 dints have place* of worship. There are here a savings bank, a loan 

 fund, a bridewell, a station of the constabulary force, and the staff 

 of the county militia. Quarter and petty sessions are ! i in !.. 

 town. A considerable quantity of grain U sold at the BaUiuatloe 

 market. The surrounding district although interspersed with bog* 

 i* well cultivated and adorned with the demesnes and plantations 

 of numerous resident proprietors. 



BALLINROBE, county of Mayo, Ireland, a market and post-town 

 and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Balliurobc, ami 

 barony of Kilmaine, is situated on the Robe Hh r. - mi! 1 -* i: 

 embouchure in Lough Mask, in 53 37' N. lat, 9 8' W. I. .ML-., distant 

 141 miles N.W. by 4V. from Dublin, and 4 inilenS.\V. froi,, i 

 on the leading road from Timni to Cagtlebar : the population in 

 1841 was 2678, in 1851 it was 2162, exclusive of 2301 inmates of the 

 Union workhouse. Ballinrobe Poor-Law Union comprise* 18 electoral 

 divisions, with an area of 144,888 acres, and a population in 1841 of 

 52,113, in 1851 of 37,286. 



Ballinrobe is picturesquely situated elm-fly on the left bank of <i;. 

 river Robe, and has on the whole a clean and neat appearance, 

 now little trade, having in this respect much declincil from it- 

 importance. In the town are the parish church, a large cha; 

 Roman Catholics, a chapel for Protestant Dissenters, a market-house, 

 a dispensary, a bridewell, and the Union workhouse. QunrUr and 

 petty sessions ore held, and in the town is a barrack station ami u 

 station of the county constabulary force. A market for agricultural 

 produce is held weekly, and fairs on Whit-Monday and Decembc 



BALLINTOY. [ANTRIM.] 



BALLSTON SPA. [NEW YORK,] 



BALLY ISLAND. [BALL] 



BALLYCASTLE, county of Antrim, Ireland, in the parih of 

 Ramorn and barony of Cory, a small seaport and post-town a; 

 seat of a Poor-Law Union, is situated on an open bay opposite to the 

 island of Rathlin, in 55 10' N. lat, 6 14' W. long., 160 miliM \. from 

 Dublin : the population in 1851 was 1669, besides 274 in the Union 

 workhouse. Ballycastle Poor-Law Union comprises 15 electoral 

 divisions, with an area of 102,568 acres, and a population in 1S41 of 

 26,010, in 1851 of 20,974. 



Ballycastle consist* of an upper and a lower town, about a quarter 

 of a mile apart The upper town contains some neat houses, anil in 

 it are the Episcopal church, and chapels for Wesleyan Methodists, 

 Roman Catholics, and Presbyterians. The town U visited for sea- 

 bathing. There are here a fever hospital, a dispensary, a sessions 

 house, and the Union workhouse. Some eighty years since a large 

 amount of money was laid out by the proprietor, aided by a grant of 

 23,0001. from the Irish Parliament, in the construction of piers, with 

 a view to promote the shipping of coal from the mines in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The exposed position of the bay however made it impos- 

 sible to preserve the piers from the violence of the sea, especially in 

 north-west winds, and the trade which appeared likely to grow into 

 importance was destroyed by the demolition of the pi> r- Sini> kelp 

 is manufactured in the vicinity, and there is a small retail trade. Four 

 fairs are held in the course of the year. Petty sessions are held in 

 the town, and there is a station of the coast-guard. 



BAI.I.V< 'LAKE. [ANTRIM.] 



BALLYMAHON, county of Longford, Ireland, a market and post- 

 town and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, chictly in the par 

 Shruel and barony of Kathcliue, is situated on the right bank of the 

 riv, ! Inny, in 63 31' N. lat, 7 48' W. long., distant 10 miles S. from 

 Longford and 68 miles W. by N. from Dublin. The population of the 

 town in 1841 was 1229, in 1851 it was 1025, exclusive of 80 persons 

 in the Union workhouse. Ballymohou Poor-Law Union contiii 

 electoral divisions, with an area of 100,125 acres, and a population in 

 1841 of 39,666, in 1861 of 26,238. 



Ballymabou consists chiefly of one wide street, Imilt nlonx' >' '"' 

 of a hill which rises with a gi-ntl-' . the im-r l.iink. The 



Inny is here crossed by a handsome bridge of five arches. The town 

 appears to have derived its name from a castle foun.'.i I lien: by 

 Mnh<jn, king of Thomond, in 960 ; of this castle the only remains arc 

 some arches, which have been incorp" 1 "" 1 ' '' w > 1 " a dwelling l> 

 Bollymahon possesses an Episcopal church, a Roman Catholic chapel, 

 a Motions-house, a market-house, a dipensary, and the Union work- 

 house. Quarter and petty sessions are held, and there is a station of 

 the constabulary force. The weekly market, chiefly for agricultural 

 produce, is on Thursday. Fairs are held on the Thursday before Ash- 

 Wednesday, on May llth, on August llth, and on November 21st 

 The fair in May i* a considerable fair for cattle. Tin 

 manufacturing activity, but the retail trade i* of some amount. 

 Three miles below Ballymahon the river Inny falls into Lough i 



BALLYMENA, county of Antrim, Ireland, a market and post 

 and the scat of a Poor- Law Union, in the parish of K i; 

 barony of Lower Toome (with the suburb of llarryville 

 of BaUyclugand barony of Lower Antrim), is situaf. 1 on the right 

 bank of the Braid River. - miles above its junction with tli 

 64 62' N. lat, 6 15' W. long., 33 miles N N.W. fioni I'-ell^t l,y tl,, ; 

 Belfast and Ballymeua railway, and 118 miles N. from Dublin. The 



