Bastion
a projecting mass of earth or masonry at the angle of a fortification, having two faces and two flanks, and so constructed that every part of it may be defended by the flank fire of some other part of the fort. The flanks of adjacent bastions are connected by a curtain. The distance between two such flanks is termed the gorge. A detached bastion is called a lunette. Also: (a) A composed bastion is one which has two sides of the interior polygon very irregular, with the effect of making the gorges also irregular. (b) A cut bastion is one which has a re-entering angle instead of a point. (c) A deformed bastion is one in which the irregularity of the lines and angles prevents the structure from having a regular form. (d) A demibastion is a bastion composed of one face only, with but a single flank and a demigorge. (e) A double bastion is a bastion raised on the plane of another one. (f) A flat bastion is one erected in the middle of a curtain when the latter is too long to be protected by the bastions at its ends. (g) A hollow bastion is one hollow in the interior. (h) A regular bastion is one so planned as to possess the true proportion of its faces, flanks, and gorges. (i) A solid bastion is one solid throughout its entire structure.
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Basutoland
a native province and British South African territory, between the provinces of Orange Free State, Natal and Cape of Good Hope. The Basutos belong chiefly to the great stem of the Bechuanas, and have made greater advances in civilization than perhaps any other South African race. In 1866 the Basutos, who had lived under a semiprotectorate of the British since 1848, 140, were proclaimed British subjects, their country placed under the government of an agent, and in 1871 it was joined to Cape Colony. In 1879 the attempted enforcement of an act passed for the disarmament of the native tribes caused a revolt under the chief Moirosi, which the Cape forces were unable to put down. When peace was restored Basutoland was disannexed from Cape Colony (1884), and is now governed by a resident commissioner under the High Commissioner for South Africa. Basutoland has an area of about 11,700 square miles, much of it covered with grass and there is but little wood. The climate is pleasant. Capital, Maseru. The chief products are wool, wheat, mealies, and Kaffir corn. The natives keep large herds of cattle. The revolt in Basutoland led by Masupha came to an end Feb. 1, 1898. In 1903 it became a member of the South African Customs Union. Pop. about 405,000.
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Batangas
a province on the S. coast of Luzon Island, Philippines; also the name of the capital of the province. The city has an excellent harbor, and prior to the war between the United States and Spain was the seat of a large commerce. The province is one of the richest sugar growing districts in the Philippines. It is also notable for its large production of cocoanut oil, the larger part of which is used for domestic purposes, chiefly lamp oil and lubricating machinery. Pop. of city about 40,000. Province: area, 1,108 square miles; pop. about 275,000.
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Batcheller
GEORGE SHERMAN, an American jurist, born in Batchellerville, N. Y., July 25, 1837. He was graduated at Harvard University; was admitted to the bar in 1858; entered the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War; was taken prisoner prisoner at Harper's Ferry, hen appointand exchanged in 186 1863; was then ed Deputy Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of the South; and, in 1865-1870, was Inspector-General on the staff of Governor Fenton of New York. In 1858, 1872, and 1873 he was elected to the State Assembly; and, in 1875, was appointed one of the judges of the newly organized Supreme Court of Egypt for a term of five years. In 1883 he became President of the International Tribunal of Egypt; in 1889, Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury; in 1890, United States Minister-Resident, and Consul-General to Portugal; and in 1897, again a member of the International Tribunal of Egypt. In the last year he decoreceived from King Humbert the ration of the great cordon of the Order of the Crown of Italy, in recognition of his services as President of the Universal Postal Congress which met in Washington in May, 1897. He died July 2, 1908.
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Batchian
or BATJAN, one of the Moluccas, W. of the southern peninsula of the island of Gilolo. Area, 914 square miles; pop. about 13,000. It belongs to the Dutch residency of Ternate, consists of two peninsulas joined by a narrow isthmus, and has many mountains. Batchian produces gold, copper, much coal, sago, cocoanut trees, rice, cloves, and fine timber.
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Bates College
a coeducational institution in Lewiston, Me.; organized in 1864, under the auspices of the Free Baptist Church; reported at the end of 1919: Professors and instructors, 40; students, 494; volumes of library, 47,000; endowment, over $1,000,000; number of BATHSHEBA graduates, 2,285; president, Rev. Clifton D. Gray.
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Bath Houses
MUNICIPAL. Baths for use of the public. under city control.
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Baths of Agrippa
the earliest of the Roman thermæ; erected by Marcus Agrippa in the reign of Augustus. It stood in the Campus Martius, about 20 feet behind the Pantheon.
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Baths of Caracalla
one of the most magnificent of the Roman thermæ in the S. E. part of the city; 2,300 men could bathe in it at the same time. It was begun in 206 A. D. by Caracalla, and completed by Severus . The ruins which still remain are among the most remarkable in Rome.
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Baths of Diocletian
the most extensive of the Roman thermæ; in the N. E. part of the city, and covering most of the ground between the Porto Collina and the Porta Viminalis . Over 3,000 persons could bathe in it at the same time. It contained a library, picture gallery, odeum, etc. Michael Angelo transformed the great hall of the Tepidarium into a nave for the Church of S. Marie degli Angeli. One of the laconica (hot rooms) forms the vestibule of the church. med
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