B A S 



.316 



Das 



i... nee, Russel's Aleppo, vol. i. book ii. chap. vii. See also 

 j :hkir. Q lu . r ' 8 Jtiamnet Usages dvs Tuns, torn. ii. lib. x. 

 ' Savary's I.rlhcs sur Egypte, torn. ii. let. 15. (ft) 



BASHEE, or Bashi Iblahd*, a group of six 

 or seven islands in the Chinese sea, situated between 

 the island of Formosa and the Philippine Isles. The 

 five principal islands are Grafton, Monmouth, Orange, 

 Bashec, and the isle of Goats. The islands of Mon- 

 mouth and Grafton are well peopled, but the island 

 of Buhee, which is about two leagues in diameter, 

 contains only one village. The mountains are very 

 stony, but the valleys are very fertile, and are water- 

 ed with numerous rivulets. The women take the 

 charge of the plantations, while the men employ 

 themselves chiefly in fishing. The principal produc- 

 tions of these islands are, bananas, plantains, pine- 

 apples, pumpkins, sugar canes, and cotton. Potatoes 

 and yams, which grow in considerable quantities, 

 serve the inhabitants for bread. The only articles 

 imported into the Bashec islands are, iron and buffalo 

 hides, which it is probable they obtain from Luzon, the 

 principal island of the Philippines. East Long. 122, 

 North Lat. 23*. (to) 



BASHKIRS, a people of the Russian empire, scat- 

 tered along the banks of the Volga and Ural. Their 

 country forms a part of the ancient Bolgaria ; and 

 they seem to be descended partly from the Bolgares, 

 and partly from the Nogay Tartars. Without any 

 fixed abodes, they wandered formerly along the south- 

 ern regions of Siberia, till the oppression of the 

 Siberian khans obliged them to confine themselves 

 within their present territories, and to court the pro- 

 tection of the khans of Kazania. When that go- 

 vernment was subverted by Czar Ivan II., they vo- 

 luntarily assumed the Russian yoke ; though their 

 Subsequent revolts proved that their submission pro- 

 ceeded entirely from necessity. They now belong to 

 the governments of Ufa and Perme; and consisted 

 about forty years ago of 2700 families. They are 

 divided into 3t wohsts, or tribes, each of which elects 

 for itself one, and sometimes two, ancients or star- 

 Schinis. In their manners they differ but little from 

 the other Tartars. Fond of the pastoral life, their 

 principal wealth consists in their flocks, and in herds 

 of cattle, horses, and camels. They pay particular at- 

 tention to the management of bees, in which they are 

 very successful. Their hives, which, in general, are 

 merely cavities in trees, are defended by many inge- 

 nious contrivances from the attacks of the bears. A 

 very small proportion of their lands is under tillage, 

 and oats and barley are the only kinds of grain which 

 they rear. These, with the milk and flesh of their 

 cattle, are the chief articles of their subsistence. 

 The Bashkirs still reti'in a strong antipathy against 

 % the Russians, insomuch that they consider it a kind 



of national duty, when they are employed by them 

 as guides, to conduct them through marshes, and 

 mher places the most impracticable that they can 

 find. The Russians, in their turn, are extremely 

 jealous of the Bashkirs, and will not permit them to 

 dwell on the mountains, that they may be able to 

 keep a watchful eye over their conduct. 



The troops of this nation are all horsemen, and are 

 remarkably well mounted. They are armed with a 

 bow, a lar.ce, a helmet, and a coat of mail ; and are 



besides provided by the Russians with sabres, mus- 

 kets, and pistols. In drawing the bow they display 

 uncommon skill, and manage their horses with great 

 dexterity. In times of war they are obliged to fur- 

 nish the Russian army with 3000 cavalry, which arr 

 divided into 30 troops, each consisting of 100 men. 

 They are an indolent, slovenly, and simple people; bur 

 are hospitable, lively, and brave. See Chantreaux" 

 Travels, Touke's Vtevt of the Russian Empire, Voy- 

 age de Pallas, Voyage tit Gmelin, Sfc. (ft.) 



BASIL, Saint, surnamed the Great, was born 

 in Csesarea, in the year 326, and became bishop of 

 that city. Having studied at Constantinople, he went 

 to Athens to perfect-himself in that school of science : 

 and his studies being completed, he returned to his na- 

 tive country in 355, and taught rhetoric. While he 

 resided at Athens, he became acquainted with Julian, 

 afterwards surnamed the Apostate, who was also en- 

 gaged in the study of eloquence in that celebrated 

 city. With him Basil read not only the prophane 

 authors, but also the books of the Holy Scriptures: 

 Julian carefully concealed from him his real senti- 

 ments of the sacred writings. But when raised to 

 the imperial throne, he threw off the mask, and filled 

 his court with heathen philosophers and magicians 

 from all parts of the world, Basil manfully rejected 

 his repented solicitations to reside at his court, though 

 accompanied with the warmest professions of friend- 

 ship. He afterwards retired to the monasteries in 

 Syria, Egypt, and Libya, where he became so fond 

 of the monastic life, that he embraced it on his re- 

 turn to Pontus and Cappadocia. Having received 

 the order of priesthood from Eusebius bishop of Cae- 

 sarea, he retired into religious solitude ; but, in that 

 state, he continued only about three years ; for upon 

 the death of that bishop in 370, he reluctantly al- 

 lowed himself to be appointed his successor. No 

 sooner was he seated in the episcopal chair, than the 

 emperor Valens began to persecute him, and even 

 threatened to banish him from Caesarca, because he 

 refused to embrace the tenets of the Arians. The 

 emperor sent to him a prefect, who was commanded, 

 either by entreaty or menace, to ofttain his com- 

 pliance. The pious Basil peremptorily refused. The 

 prefect having reminded him of the danger to which 

 he was exposed, of having his land, his liberty, and 

 even his life sacrificed by the disappointed emperor, 

 he made the following noble reply : " He who has 

 nothing, dreads not confiscation. Every place being 

 alike indifferent to me, how can any exile- be a pu- 

 nishment ? If you imprison me, I shall enjoy more 

 pleasure than at the court of Valens. And with re- 

 spect to death, it will be to me a blessing, because it 

 will unite me to the Almighty." The prefect was 

 astonished, and remarked that none had ever pre- 

 sumed to speak to him in that manner. " Probably," 

 replied Basil, " you never before saw a bishop J" 

 Finding it impossible to bend him from his resolu- 

 tion, the emperor ceased to molest him ; and Basil 

 then began to use all that influence, which his high 

 character and office had so justly acquired, in endea- 

 vouring to compose the differences which at that 

 time subsisted betwixt the eastern and western 

 churches: but unhappily his well meant efforts pro- 

 ved ineffectual, and that contest was not terminated 



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