Belize
or BRITISH HONDURAS, a British colony, washed on the E. by the Bay of Honduras, in the Caribbean Sea, and elsewhere surrounded by Guatemala and Mexico. It forms the S. E. part of the peninsula of Yucatan, and measuring 80 by 60 miles, has an area of 8,592 square miles. The river Belize traverses the middle of the country, and the Rio Hondo and the Sarstoon form respectively its N. W. and its S. boundary. The Cockscomb Mountains (4,000 feet) are the highest eminences, the land all along the coast being low and swampy. The country has a general tropical fertility; its chief exports are mahogany and logwood, besides sugar, coffee, cotton, sarsaparilla, bananas, plantains, and india rubber. The early settlers were buccaneers, then logwood cutters, who were frequently attacked by the Spaniards, but since 1798, when they repulsed a fleet and a land force, their occupation has been formally acquiesced in. Since 1862 Belize has ranked as a British colony, with a lieutenant-governor, whose rank was raised, in 1884, to that of governor. Pop. about 42, 42,000. Belize, the capital, is a depot for British goods for Central America. Pop. about 11,000.
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Belknap
GEORGE EUGENE, an American naval officer, born in Newport, N. H., Jan. 22, 1832; was appointed appointed mid- midshipman in the navy in 1852; became Lieutenant-Commander in 1862; Commander in 1866; Captain in 1872; Commodore in 1885, and Rear-Admiral in 1889; and was retired in 1894. He took part in the capture of the Barrier Forts on the Canton river, China, in 1856; and in the Civil War was present at the bombardment of the forts and batteries in Charleston harbor, and in both of the attacks on Fort Fisher. In 1873, while North Pacific Ocean, he made discoveries engaged in deep sea sounding in the concerning the topography of the bed of the ocean that found high favor : mong scientists. He was appointed Superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory in 1885, and, among other works, published "Deep Sea Soundings." He died April 7, 1903.
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Bell Rock
or INCH CAPE, a dangerous reef surmounted by a lighthouse , situated in the German Ocean, about 12 miles from Arbroath, nearly opposite the mouth of the river Tay. The lighthouse was erected in 1808-1811 by Robert Stevenson from Rennie's plan at a cost of upward of £60,000. It arises to a height of 120 feet; has a revolving light showing alternately red and white every minute, and visible for upward of 15 miles. It also contains two bells which are rung during thick weather.
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Bell-founding
The founding of bells is practically the same as for any other similar object, as pans, kettles, domes, etc. Large ones are usually made in loam by first striking a core, by means of a centre-spindle and sweep-board, the latter corresponding to the inner dimensions and form of the bell to be cast. When this has firmly set, another sweep-board answering to the outer contour of the bell is secured to the spindle, and a thickness of sand formed on the core; after which such ornamentation as may be required is secured thereon and a cope is built around, of such strength as the magnitude of the bell demands. The subsequent operations consist of lifting of the cope, taking away the thickness, finishing the moulds, drying, and closing in the pit as for any other casting. For the common run of bells a more ready way is provided. These are invariably made in perforated cast-iron casings, which enable the founder to strike both core and cope separately, closing them together when dry, binding and casting without any subsequent labor of ramming. The core-casing should be small enough to allow a wrapping of straw before applying the loam. The rope burns away and leaves ample room for contraction. See CASINGS; KETTLES; SPINDLE.
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Bell-the-Cat
a sobriquet of Archibald Douglas, fifth earl of Angus. See Douglas
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Belladonna
a European plant, atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade, natural order solanaceæ. It is native in Great Britain. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The inspissated juice is commonly known by the name of extract of belladonna. It is narcotic and poisonous, but is of great value in medicine, especially in nervous ailments. It has the property of causing the pupil of the eye to dilate. The fruit of the plant is a dark, brownish-black shining berry.
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Bellaire
a city in Belmont co., O.; on the Ohio river, and several railroads; 5 miles S. of Wheeling, W. Va. The river is here crossed by a costly iron railroad bridge. Bellaire is the center of a region rich in coal, iron, cement, brick, clay, and limestone, and has manufactories of stoves, glass, carriages, boilers, and foundry and machine shop products. The city has a National bank, high grade educational institutions, daily and weekly newspapers, etc. Pop. (1910) 12,946; (1920) 15,061.
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Bellamy, Edward
Edward (1850-1898), an American journalist and novelist. He was born in Massachusetts. He was educated in Germany and, on his return to this country, was admitted to the bar. Looking Backward, his most noted work, is of a socialistic character. It was published in 1888. For two years the sales were enormous. The story gives an imaginary picture of social and industrial conditions in the year 2000. The book led to the formation of "Nationalist" clubs, in which work Mr. Bellamy was a leader.
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Belle Jardinere
La, bel zhar-de-nyar, a celebrated painting of the Holy Family by Raphael. It represents the Madonna seated in the midst of a beautiful garden. The Child Jesus and the little St. John are leaning against her knees. The painting is one of the treasures of the Louvre gallery, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful of the many pictures which have the Holy Family for a subject. The name means "the pretty gardener." See Raphael ; The Louvre
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Belle-Isle
a rocky island 9 miles long, at the E. entrance to the Strait of Belle-Isle, the channel, 17 miles wide, between Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador. Steamers from Glasgow and Liverpool to Quebec around the N. of Ireland commonly go by this channel in summer as being the shortest route. There are two lighthouses.
or BELLE- ISLE-EN-MER, a French island in the Bay of Biscay, department of Morbihan, of Quiberon Point; length, 11 8 miles S. of Quiberon Poir miles; s; greatest breadth, 6 miles. Pop. about 10,000, engaged in the pilchard fishing. The capital is Le Palais, on the N. E. coast.
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