

BfJNEK. 



BILIK. 



i -I 



at thin spot U about 800 yards wide, and very rapid : its bed U 

 ed by many granite rocks. The river contract* greatly at one 

 point between the two parts of the city, and here there was formerly 

 a stone bridge, which i* now in ruins ; the communication U kept up 

 by mean* of a ferry. 



The city stand* in a plain, which in surrounded by enormous tnminnn 

 of granite, and strewed with blocks of the same material. Granite 

 is used for the pavement* and building*. The remains of numerous 

 temples, choultries (houses of accommodation for travellers), and 

 many other public and private buildings, exhibit the purest style of 

 HnMOO architecture, and great skill of workmanship. 



Tlie part of the city which U nituated on the ri -ht bank of the 

 Toombuddra is, except where bounded by the river, inclosed with 

 walls or blocks, and is eight miles in circuit, but contains much 

 vacant ground. Near the western extremity and terminating a street 

 90 feet wide, is a magnificent temple dedicated to MahadSva (the 

 great god). This temple is surrounded by numerous cells for devotees ; 

 facing the east U a pyramidal portico about 150 feet high, and <li vi.le I 

 into 10 stories. The attendant Brahmins are numerous, and the 

 establishment is well endowed. Many pilgrims attend the 

 annual festival. Another temple near the centre of the city i* 

 dedicated to Wittoba (an incarnation of Vishnu). This establishment 

 consists of a group of buildings occupying an area of about 400 feet 

 by 200 feet, and surrounded by numerous cells. The granite 

 columns which support the roof of the chief temple have numerous 

 figures of lions clustered round them, and the entablature U orna- 

 mented as well as the ceiling with various sculptures. On holidays 

 the image of the god Wittoba is exposed in a chariot, constructed, 

 wheels and all, of granite : this chariot ia elaborately and delicately 

 ornamented. The division on the north-west bank of the river is 

 uninhabited, with the exception of a small village built near the 

 centre with stones collected from the surrounding ruins. A temple 

 dedicated to Krishna situated near this spot is kept in repair, and 

 still used for the performance of religious rites. 



Tite city of Bijanaghur was built between the years 1336 and 1343, 

 by two brothers named Akit Hurryhur and Bucca Hurryhur, who 

 ruled here in succession, Aka until 1350, and Bucca until 1378. The 

 rajas of Bijanaghur were constantly involved in war with the 

 Ifohammedan rulers of the Deccan, and at length in 1564 the 

 sovereigns of Ahmednuggur, Beeder, Golconda, and Bejapore com- 

 bined together, and routed the forces of Ram Raja, the raja of 

 Bijanaghur, on the plains of Tellicotta. The conquerors afterwards 

 advanced upon the capital, which they took and completely sacked, 

 so that it was deserted by nearly all its inhabitant*. 



HI.IXK'K, a principality beyond the limits of Northern Hindustan, 

 situated on both aides of the Brahmaputra River, aud bordering on 

 Asam to the east, Bootan to the north, Rungpoor to the west, aud the 

 Oarrow* on the south. A part of the lauds of Bijnee is situated 

 within the limits of British jurisdiction, and a part consists of territory 

 subject to an insignificant tribute paid to the raja of Bootan. The 

 division north of the Brahmaputra is called Khungtaghaut, which 

 name is sometimes applied to the whole principality ; aud that south 

 of the great river is called Howeraghaut. 



This extensive country possesses much natural beauty, and contains 

 a groat proportion of fertile land ; but the level country is subject to 

 iiiiiin Lition, and the government has been so badly administered that 

 tli- inhabitant* have had no inducement to settle and improve the 

 1 ' Rice i* the principal vegetable production. The soil U adapted 



laud. 



f..r wheat, barley, pulse, sugar-cane, and the mulberry tree. It is 

 customary for many of the natives of Bijnee to bring their wives and 

 families for safety within that part of the principality which is under 

 Britixh protection, while they themselves pursue their labours in other 

 district* more liable to disturbance. The authority of the British 

 over part of Bijnee is derived from it* connection with the Mogul 

 ein|H-p.r, t<> whose right* the East India Company succeeded. In 

 17.'] Havindra Narrara, the raja of Uijnee, was assassinated, and 

 the raja of Bootan took upon himself to nominate as his successor 

 Mahindra Narrain, a relative of the inui.i>i..l ],i,-f. To this nomi- 

 nation the Bengal government assented, liijnrt, the capital of the 

 principality, is situated in 26 20' N. lat, 90* 48 ; E. long. The town 

 surrounded by a brick wall, built in the form of a parallelogram. 

 Beyond this wall is a ditch, on the outside of which is a strong hedge 

 of prickly bamboo. Each side of the wall contains a gate. Besides 

 t, which is built of brick, the town contain* a few small plain 

 tuples; the remainder of the buildings are nothing better than 

 thatched huU. 



l:l I.BAO, a town of Spain, capital of the province of Vizcaya, one 

 of the three Provincial Yatconyatlat. [Bisqui PROVISOES.] The 

 town stands on both banks of the Anna, or Nerviou, but chiefly on 

 the right or eastern bank, in 43 16' N. lat, 2* 68' W. long., 10 miles 

 from the mouth of the river, which Is obstructed by a bar, but is 

 navigable for small vessels as far as Bilbao. Large vessels, which 

 cannot pus the bar, remain at anchor in the wstuary below Portu- 

 pJete. Two bridges cross the Nervion at Bilbao : the one is a modem 

 iron suspension-bridge, the other was constructed about 186, when 

 Diego Lopex de Haro was lord of Vixcaya. The town is situated in a 

 mall but fertile plain environed by mountains on all sides except 

 the north. It U inclosed by a wall, and has other defences. The 



population is about 12,000. The principal street* are straight and 

 well built, the houses substantial, of freestone or brick, three to five 

 stories high, with projecting roofs, and every story has a small balcony 

 before each window, which in summer has a curtain drawn over it to 

 shade the inmates from the sun. The front* of many of the houses 

 are painted in colours. The streets are paved with small stones 

 arranged in lozenges, and are kept very clean and ore very quiet. ; T 

 no carriages are allowed to enter them, goods being conveyed uu trucks. 

 The town is mercantile, and there is not much of fine art to be seen 

 in it ; but it has some pleasant alamedas, or public walks, especially 

 the Arenal, or ' Strand,' which extends along the river in front of the 

 Calle dc Stufa ; it is adorned with a flower-garden in tin- cent: 

 is provided with stone-benches. An aqueduct conveys the w:.- 

 the rive* for the supply of the fountains, ef which there are several 

 Not only most of the convents, but several of the older churches 

 have been destroyed. The chun-h of St. James (Santiago), near the 

 post-office, has a handsome entrance ; the interior i - to six 



aisles, is adorned with much carving and gilding, has window* of 

 coloured glass, and contains many statues, mostly of wood ; but that 

 of St. James, on horseback, is of silver, and stands over the high 

 altar, which is also of silver. There are four or five other churches. 

 The slaughter-house (carnrceria) is a building of Tuscan architecture, 

 and contains a fountain. The market-place is near the river, and U 

 well supplied. The town-hall, a structure of no architectural merit, 

 stands in the market place. An hospital and a house for the destitute 

 are both supported by voluntary contributions. The theatre is a 

 small wooden building, with two tiers of boxes. The arsenal and 

 custom-house are the only other public buildings of importance. 

 There is a large public cemetery, the Caiupo- Santo, which is much 

 admired. 



The manufactures of the town are chiefly those connected with 

 shipping, such as rope-making, sail-making, and the forging of an 

 The commerce is mostly carried on by Dutch vessels of from 

 100 tons, which come up to the quay, and bring 1 . and 



woollen fabrics, butter, cheese, salt-fish, and other produce, and i 

 with wool, chestnuts, iron, olive-oil, and fruit*. Women are Kcuer.illy 

 employed in loading and unloading the vessels ; they carry the loads 

 on their heads with great skill and steadiness. 



In the Peninsular war Bilbao was taken by the French in 1808, and 

 they were driven out by the British in 1813. In the more recent 

 civil war (1835) Bilbao was twice exposed to destructive sieges. 



(Mi&ano, Diccionario Gcografico ; Madoz, Diccionario de EtpaAa ; 

 Ford's 11 'and/took of Spain.) 



BILBIL1S, a Cultiberiou town, in Hixpania Tarraoonensis, situated 

 on a hill above the Solo, a branch of the Iberux, which is sometimes 

 called by the same name as the town. (Martial, x. 103, 104.) Its 

 site is at Boiubola near Calatayud, which stands near the junction ..t' 

 the Xiloca with the Xalon. The steel manufactories at this place were 

 celebrated in ancient times (Plin. ' Nat. Hist' xxxiv. 1 4 ; J uxtin. xliv. 3 ; 

 Martial, iv. 55) ; but it is known to us principally as having been the 

 birth-place of Martial, the great epigrammatist. It was a niun 

 town, with the surname of Augusta, under the Roman ei 

 About 24 Roman miles up the Solo was Aquas Bilbilitauie, a town 

 with medicinal springs aud baths, mentioned in the Itinerary of 

 Antoninus. 



Conner, wilh head of Auguitu*, Brit. JIun. 



Coin of Rllbllli, copper, Brit. Mui. 



HII.DKSTONE, or BILSTON. [SUFFOLK.] 



BILIN, one of the possessions of the princes of Lobkovite, in the 

 north-west of Bohemia, close to the Ore and Middle Mountains, is 

 about 168 square miles in superficial extent, with about 8000 inhabit- 

 ants. The principal spot in this district U Bilin or Bylina, a small 

 town of about 8000 inhabitants, lying on the little river Uila, 

 embosomed in a deep valley, and distant about three miles from tl.u 



