B A S 



31; 



B A S 



BASE, in Anatomy, a term used by anatomists 

 in a very vagu^ manner in their descriptions of the 

 animal body. Sometimes it refers to situation in 

 respect of some other part, as the base of the cra- 

 nium, i. e. its lower part in the usual attitude of the 

 human body ; the base of the brain, or that part of 

 the encephalon which rests on the lower part of the 

 cranium. Sometimes it is employed to denote a cer- 

 tain side of a triangular organ, as the base of the 

 scapula, i. e. that side which is next the spine ; the 

 base of the heart, or that side opposite the point or 

 apex. {/) 



BASE. See Chemistry, Geometry, and Musrc. 



BASELLA, a genus of plants of the class Pen- 

 tandria, and order Trigynia. See Botany, (to) 



BASHAW, or more properly Pacha, a person 

 appointed to the government of a province, district, or 

 city, within the dominions of the Grand Seignior. 

 When the successive conquests of the sultans had 

 rendered their empire too extensive to be controuled 

 by their own immediate vigilance, they entrusted the 

 government of the remote provinces to viceroys, who 

 might enforce the imperial mandates, and convey 

 to the imperial exchequer the revenues of their re- 

 spective departments. Of these viceroys, or bashaws, 

 there are two orders, invested with different degrees 

 of rank and authority. The first order are called 

 bashaws with three tails, because three horse tails wave 

 on their military standards ; the second are named 

 bashaws with two tails, for they are not allowed to 

 adorn their standards with more than two such 

 streamers. The authority of the bashaw with three 

 tails is, in their respective governments, nearly as un- 

 limited and despotic, as that of the monarch whom 

 they represent. The military and executive power 

 are united in their persons ; and the lives and pro- 

 perties of all within their department are almost en- 

 tirely at their disposal. They maintain a military 

 establishment suitable to the extent, revenues, or the 

 situation of their provinces; and when summoned by 

 the sovereign, or when the frontier is menaced, they 

 take the field at the head of their respective armies. 

 In the administration of civil justice, however, the 

 bashaws are not allowed to interfere. Every case of 

 civil litigation is decided by tie Cadis or judges, 

 who, by a wise regulation, are made entirely inde- 

 pendent of the viceroys. The bashaws with two tails 

 have a less extensive department, and more limited 

 power. They cannot inflict death without the sen- 

 tence of law ; and though they have the command of 

 the armed force within their district, they are obliged 

 in the field Xo range their troops under the standard 

 of a bashaw with three tails, and to submit to his 

 commands. In extensive governments the bashaws 

 have likewise a number of delegates, who command, 

 in their different spheres, with as despotic sway as 

 the bashaw or the sultan themselves. Nothing can 

 be conceived more galling and oppressive than this 

 systematic gradation of despotism. The sword of 

 the monarch is thus transferred into the hands of 

 the meanest underling; and is always wielded with 

 more dreadful effect, as it is more circumscribed in 

 its range. 



The abuses which prevail in all the bashawlics 



are dreadful beyond expression. As the groat end 

 of these' governments is to convey the riches of the ' 

 empire into the coffers of the grand seignior, it be- 

 comes of course the first obligation of a bashaw to 

 levy and transmit the tribute imposed on his particu- 

 lar district. The means of doing this are left entirely 

 to his own discretion ; nor is it possible for him to be 

 very delicate in the exercise of his authority. Obli- 

 ged to purchase his appointment from the vizir, or 

 some other person of influence, by bidding higher 

 than all his competitors, he is of course eager to 

 indemnify himself by his exactions. Besides, he finds 

 it necessary still to advance considerable sums to the 

 court, in order to obtain promotion, or even security, 

 and therefore he has recourse to every expedient for 

 raising money ; and as he is uncertain how long he 

 may retain his office, the readiest expedients are al- 

 ways preferred. The mode generally adopted is, to 

 farm out the revenues of the bashawlic to some of 

 the principal inhabitants at an exorbitant rent : these 

 again subdivide them into smaller lots at an increased 

 sum ; and thus the system, becoming more oppressive 

 as it descends, reaches even to the meanest hamlets* 

 By this system a considerable proportion of the po- 

 pulation are interested in increasing the public bur- 

 dens ; and as they are supported m their extortions 

 by state- authority, the wretched inhabitants must 

 submit to them without murmuring. The inevitable 

 and immediate tendency of these extortions is to ruin 

 and impoverish the country, by repressing the spirit 

 of industry and improvement. 



The extensive power of the bashaws naturally 

 makes them ambitious to render it permanent; while 

 the jealous policy of the sultan induces him to remove 

 them frequently, that they may not have time to 

 form such connections as may enable them to assert 

 their independence. This precarious tenure by which 

 the bashawlics are held, is productive of many evils. 

 If the viceroy be of a bold and aspiring temper, his 

 province is harassed by wars occasioned by his rebel- 

 lion. At all events, they regard their governments 

 as mere transient possessions, and are therefore eager 

 to extort from them every temporary advantage, re- 

 gardless of the sufferings of the people, who look 

 forward, with a kind of desponding anxiety, to a 

 change, which may only perhaps increase their op- 

 pression. Besides, in the frequent journies of the 

 bashaws, the intermediate towns are subjected to 

 great expense, and the fields and villages are ravaged 

 by disorderly troops. Hence every part of the Ot- 

 toman empire, at any distance from the capital, pre- 

 sents a scene of the most complete desolation ; large 

 tracts of country lying uncultivated, hamlets and 

 villages uninhabited and in ruins. 



Though the name bashaw is properly applied to a 

 governor of a province, it is sometimes given, as a 

 title of respect, to people of distinction, although 

 they hold no such office. It is iji that case placed 

 after the proper name, and is equivalent to the French 

 monseigneur, or to your excellence, your honour, &c. 

 in English. For some interesting information rela- 

 tive to the bashaws, see Volney's Voyage en Syrie et 

 en Egyple, torn, i chap. x. vol. ii. chap, xxxiii. Oli- 

 vicr's Voyage Dans I' Empire Oihoman, ike. chap. xvii. 



Bashaw. 



