searches of Colebrooke, Wilson, Sylvestre de Sacy, and Loiseleur des Longchamps (Essai sur les Fables Indiennes, 1838), have successfully traced the origin of the collection, its spread, and the alterations that it has undergone among different nations. The ultimate source is the old Indian collection in Sanskrit, with the title Panchatantra (q.v.), i.e., Five Sections' (edited by Kosegarten, Bonn, 1848). An analytical account of the Sanskrit Panchatantra, by H. H. Wilson-who determines the date of its production to be subsequent to A.D. 5th c.-is printed in the Transac tions of the Royal Asiatic Soc. vol. i.; but an abridgment of it, called the Hitopadesa (q.v.) is better known than the original. A critical edition of the Hitopadesa has been published by A. W. von Schlegel and Lassen (Bonn, 1829), and translations have been made into English by Wilkins and Jones, and into German by M. Müller (Leip. 1844).

Under the Persian king, Nushirvan (531-570), the Panchatantra was translated into the Pehlvi tongue by his physician Barsuyeh, under the title of Calilah and Dimnah (from two jackals that take a prominent part in the first fable). This Pehlvi version has perished with all the profane literature of ancient Persia; but under the Caliph Almansur (754–775), it was translated into Arabic by Abdallah ibn-Almokaffa (pub. by De Sacy, Par. 1816). From Almokaffa's Arabic translation-in the introduction to which the author of the collection is called Bidpai, the chief of Indian philosophers-have flowed all the other translations and paraphrases of the East and West. Several Arabic poets worked it up into complete poems; and in the new Persian literature a great variety of versions and paraphrases, some in verse, some in prose, were made. From the Persian of Vaez (about the end of the 15th c.), the work was translated into Turkish about 1540 by Ali Chelebi, under the title of Homayun-nămeh, the Imperial Book. There are translations also into the Malay, Mongol, and Afghan languages.

Toward the end of the 11th c., a translation had appeared, from the Arabic of Almokaffa, into Greek, by Simeon Sethus; and later, a Hebrew translation by Rabbi Joel, which John of Capua, a converted Jew, in the last half of the 13th c., retranslated into Latin with the title of Directorium Humana Vita (published first at Augs. 1480, and repeatedly since). A version from this was made into German by Eberhard I., Duke of Würtemberg (d. 1325), published at Ulm, 1483. Under Alfonso X. of Castile (1252-84), Almokaffa's work was translated into Castilian, and from that into Latin by Raymond of Veziers, a learned physician. There are translations in most European languages. In 1884, Prof. Wright published an edition of the Syriac text of Kalilah and Dimnah; and in 1885, Mr. KeithFalconer gave an excellent translation from the Syriac, with notes, bibliography, and other scholarly apparatus, under the title of Kalilah and Dimnah, or the Fables of Bidpai.

BIEL: see BIENNE,

BIELA'S COMET-BIELO-OZERO.

BIELA'S COMET, bělůz kom'ět: one of the comets of short period (64 years), first seen at Johannisberg, 1826, Feb. 27, by Wilhelm von Biela, Austrian officer; and 10 days later at Marseille by Gambert. On its return in 18-26 it was in two parts, presenting the appearance of two comets about 157,000 m. apart. In 1852, its parts were 1,250,000 m. apart; and since that time it has not been seen. It has been suggested that its parts have separated and become material for meteoric showers. Biela (17821856) after whom the comet was named, was born in Roslau on the Elbe (Prussia), and entered first upon a military career. After serving for some time in the Austrian army, he withdrew from the service, and gave his leisure to the fine arts and astronomy.

BIELD, n. beld: see BEELD.

BIELEFELD, be'le-feit: busy town of Westphalia, Prussia, picturesquely situated on the Lutter or Lutter bach, at the foot of the Sparrenberg Mountain, about 26 m. s.w. of Minden. The broad ditch which formerly surrounded B. is now converted into pleasant walks. The old walls of the town have been put to a similar use. The castle of Sparrenberg, erected 1545 on the site of an old Guelphic fortress, and which now serves as a prison, is near. B., which is the centre of the Westphalian linen trade, the extensive bleaching-grounds, manufactures of woolenae rca d, soap, leather, etc., and its meerschaum pipes are celebrated. Pop. (1885) 34,924; (1890) 39,942.

BIELEV, be-a-lev': ancient town of European Russia, in the gov. of Tula; on the left bank of the Oka; lat. 53° 45 n., Ĭong. 36° 5′ e. It has a large trade, and manufactures of soap, hardware, leather, etc. Pop. 9,171.

A

BIELITZ, be lits: town of Austrian Silesia, on the left bank of the river Biala, about 18 in. n. e. of Teschen. bridge over the river connects it with the town of Biala, in Galicia. It has dye-works and print-fields, and a large trade in woolens and kerseymeres with Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. B. belongs to the Princes Sulkowsky, whose castle here is now converted into public offices. Pop. (1880) 13,060; (1890) 14,499.

BIELLA, bi-èlla: town of n. Italy, province of Novara, about 38 m. n.e. of Turin, with which it is connected by railway. It is pleasantly situated on the Cervo, an affluent of the Sesia, and has manufactures of woolens, hats, paper, etc. Pop. 11,662.

BIELO-OZERO, be-ā'lo-o-zā'ro (the White Lake): lake in the govt. of Novgorod, Russia; lat. 60° 10' n., long. 37° 30' e. It is elliptical in shape, its length about 25 m., and its breadth 20. Its bottom is composed of white clay, which, during stormy weather, gives to the water a milky appearance; hence, doubtless, the name White Lake. B. is fed by numerous small streams, is deep, and abounds with fish. Its surplus waters are conveyed by the Sheksna river into the Volga. Canals unite it with the Onega, Sukona, and Dwina.

BIELOPOL-BIENNIAL.

BIELO-OZERSK, an old wooden town on the s. shore of the lake, formerly cap. of an ancient principality of the same name, has a trade in cattle, corn, and pitch, and manufactures of candles. Pop. about 5,000.

BIELOPOL, be-a-lõ' pol: town of Russia, govt. of Kharkov, from which it is 106 m. n.w. It has considerable trade and extensive distilleries. Pop. (1877) 12,178.

BIELSHÖH'LE: singular cavern in one of the Harz Mountains, called Bielstein, on the right bank of the Bode, in the duchy of Brunswick, Germany. It was discovered, 1768. The entrance to it is more than 100 ft. above the bed of the stream. The cavern is divided into eleven main compartments, and contains much of that curiously freakish work which nature delights to execute in stalactites in seeming imitation of the inventions of human art, as in the eighth division, where a formation like the framework of an organ has been fashioned out of the slow drip of ages. In the ninth, there is also a picture of a sea, arrested in its motion, its waves silent, but in act to roll.

BIËLSK, be-ělsk': town of Russia, govt. of Grodno; in a very fertile district, watered by the Narev and Nurzek. It was formerly capital of a Polish palatinate, is well built, and has a fine custom-house. Pop 10,000.

BIENNE, been, or BIEL: town of Switzerland, canton of Bern, 17 m. n.w. of the city of Bern; beautifully situated at the foot of the vine-clad Jura, at the mouth of the valley of the Suze, and at the n. extremity of the lake of Bienne. It is surrounded by old walls, and approached by shady avenues. The people are engaged in the manufacture of watches, leather, cotton, etc. B. is a place of great antiquity. It belonged to the Bishop of Bâle, or Basel; but as early as 1352, it entered into an alliance with Bern, for the protection of its liberties, and for this display of independence was burned by its ecclesiastical ruler. The Reformation, however, so weakened the clerical power that in the beginning of the 17th c. it had become merely nominal; and B. was essentially a free and independent city until 1798, when it was annexed to France. In 1815, it was united to Bern. Pop. (1888) 15,407.

BIENNE, LAKE OF: lake extending s. w. from the town of Bienne along the foot of the Jura Mountains, until within 3 m. of Lake Neuchâtel; length about 10 m.; greatest breadth 3. It is 1,419 ft. above the level of the sea, 8 ft. lower than Lake Neuchâtel, whose surplus waters it receives at its s. extremity by the Thiel, by which river it again discharges its own. Its greatest depth is 280 ft. Toward its s. extremity is the island of St. Pierre, crowned with a grove of fine old oaks, to which Rousseau retired for two months after his proscription at Paris in 1765.

BIENNIAL, a. bî-ěn'nă-ăl [L. biennālis, for two yearsfrom bis, twice; annus, a year]: continuing or lasting throughout two years-applied to plants that do not bear flowers and seed till the second year, and then die; happening once in two years: N. a plant that stands two years. BIEN NIALLY, ad. -lī.

BIENNIALS-BIENVILLE.

BIENNIALS, bi-en'ni-álz, or BIENNIAL PLANTS: plants which do not dower in the first season of their growth, but flower and bear fruit in the second season, and then die. Many of our cultivated plants are B., as the carrot, turnip, parsnip, parsley, celery, etc., and many of the most esteemed flowers of our gardens, as stock, wallflower, etc. But plants which in ordinary circumstances are B. often become annuals (q.v.), when early sowing, warm weather, or other causes promote the earlier development of a flowering stem, as is continually exemplified in all the kinds already named. If, on the other hand, the flowering of the plant is prevented-or, in many cases, if merely prevented from ripening its seed-it will continue to live much longer: the same bed of parsley, if regularly cut over, will remain productive for a number of years.

BIENVILLE, bē-ăng-vēl', JEAN BAPTISTE, Sieur DE: 1680, Feb. 23-1765; b. Montreal: adventurer and civil administrator. He was one of 11 sons of Charles Lemoyne, Baron of Longueuil, and 3 of his brothers, Iberville, Sérigny, and Châteauguay, were, like himself, prominent figures in the early history of Louisiana. While a boy, he accompanied his elder brother, Iberville, on several voyages, and in a naval action off the New England coast was severely wounded. He was with Iberville when the first settlement was made at the mouth of the Mississippi, 1699. Iberville then went back to France, leaving Sauvolle in command, and on the death of Sauvolle, 1701, B. succeeded to the direction of the colony, and transferred the capital to Mobile. He was dismissed from office 1707 on charge of misconduct, but was restored to favor, and appointed lieut.gov. 1713. A new company of colonists having been sent out, B. was appointed gov., and founded the city of New Orleans 1718. He captured Pensacola from the Spaniards in the same year, and placed his bro. Châteauguay in command. He made New Orleans the seat of govt. 1723, but was removed from office under charges 1726. Again he was sent to La. as gov. 1733. In consequence of an unsuccessful expedition against the Chickasaws, he was again deposed. Before leaving La., he promulgated a code of laws which remained in force until after La. came into the possession of the United States. By this code, Jews were excluded from the territory, the Rom. Cath. religion alone was tolerated, and the condition of slaves was regulated.-B. died in France.

BIER-BIFARIOUS.

BIER, n. ber [AS. baer; F. bière, a bier: Ger. bára, a litter: Gael. bara, a barrow]: a frame of wood, or a carriage, on which the dead are borne to the grave.

BIERSTADT, bèr stát, ALBERT: painter: b. Düsseldorf, Germany, 1830, Jan. 7. He accompanied his parents to Salem, Mass., 1831; began painting in oil 1851; studied painting in Düsseldorf and Rome 1853-57; accompanied Gen. Lander's expedition to Colo. and Cal. 1858; elected member of the National Acad. of Design_1860; received the diploma and cross of the Legion of Honor 1867, and crosses of St. Stanislaus 1869 and 70; elected member of the Acad. of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg 1871; and has re ceived medals of honor from Austria, Bavaria, Belgium, and Germany. His paintings include Laramie Peak (1861); Lander's Peak (1863); North Fork of the Platte (1864); Down the Yosemite (1865); El Capitan on Merced River (1866); Storm on Mt. Rosalie (1866); Valley of the Yosemite (1866); Settlement of California and Discovery of the Hudson River (both in the national capitol); Pool on Mt. Whitney (1870); Great Trees of California (1874); Valley of Kern River, California (1875); Estes Park, Colorado, Mountain Lake and Mt. Corcoran in the Sierra Nevada (1878): Geysers (1883); Storm on the Matterhorn (1884); and California Oaks (1886).

BIERVLIET, bēr-vlēt': village of the Netherlands, province of Zeeland, 13 m. e.n.e. of Sluis; noticeable as the birthplace of William Beukelzoon (q.v.), who in 1386 invented the method of curing herrings. In 1377, B. was detached from the mainland by an inundation, and remains insular.

BIES-BOSCH, bès-bosi: marshy sheet of water of the Netherlands, between the provinces N. Brabant and S. Holland, formed in 1421, Nov., by an inundation which destroyed 72 villages and 100,000 people. It forms that part of the estuary of the Maas called Holland's Diep. It is interspersed with several islands.

BIESTINGS, n. plu. best ingz [AS. bysting; Dut. biest, biestings: Goth. beist, leaven (see BEESTINGS)]: the first milk given by a cow after calving.

BIÈVRES, be-av'r': village of France (Seine-et-Oise), 5 m. s.e. of Versailles, on a woody slope at the base of which the Bièvre, a tributary of the Seine, has its source. It has numerous villas and the castle of Bel-Air.

BIEZ, be-a', Oudard du: d. 1553 or 1554: French marshal, one of the most illustrious captains of his time. After the death of Bayard (1524), François I. gave B. half of the knight's troops. In 1542, he was made marshal of France. Having met with some reverses, his enemies succeeded, 1549, in having sentence of death pronounced against him; but he was pardoned, and in 1575 his honor was restored.

BIFACIAL, a. bi-fā'shal [L. bis, twice; făcies, the face]: having two like faces.

BIFARIOUS, a. bi-fā'ri-ŭs [L. bifārius, twofold, double -from fari, to speak, to say]: in bot.. placed in two rows, onc on cach side of an aris