Balfour

while his organization and administration of the Zetland Relief Fun 1891) extorted grateful recog ition even from his bitterest political opponents. In 1891-92 Mr. Balfour was first lord of the treasury; in Lord Salisbury's third administration (1895-1902) he resumed the leadership of the House of Commons; and he was continued in this office when, in Oct., 1900, the general election was fought on the question of the S. African War. On July 12, 1902, on the retirement of his uncle, Lord Salisbury, he became prime minister and Lord Privy Seal, Iwith the office of First Lord of the Treasury. Mr. Balfour was the principal minister in charge of the English Education Bill of the session of 1902, and of the London Education Bill of 1903. In 1903, when Mr. Chamberlain resigned and raised the fiscal question, Mr. Balfour expressed agreement with his proposals, but held that the country was not ripe for the taxation of food. In 1904 he spoke frequently and strongly on the Licensing Bill, the most important measure of the session. During the same year he presided at the British Association meeting at Cambridge, and delivered an address, 'Reflections suggested by the New Theory of Matter.' In the autumn of 1905 the opposition to Mr. Balfour's administration became increasingly apparent and effective, and there was frequent criticism of his general policy even within the ranks of his own party. Finally on Dec. 4, 1905, he resigned the premiership, and Sir Henry Camp bell Bannerman, the Liberal leader, was appointed to succeed him. In the general elections that followed in January the Liberals were returned by the largest majority they had ever had in the House. Balfour is the author of A Defence of Philosophic Doubt (1879), Essays and Addresses (1893). The Foundations of Belief: being Notes introductory to the Study of Theology (1895), and Economic Notes on Insular Free Trade (1903).

Balfour, FRANCIS MAITLAND (1851-82), Scottish embryologist, brother of the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, was appointed lecturer on animal morphology at Cambridge (1876). In 1882 a special professorship was instituted for him, but an Alpine accident cut short his promising career. His fame rests on his work, Comparative Embryology (1880-1), though he also wrote On the Development of Elasmobranch Fishes (1878), and, with Michael Foster, Elements of Embryology (2nd ed. 1883).

Balfour, GERALD WILLIAM (1853), nephew of the Marquis of Salisbury, and younger brother of Arthur James Balfour, en

540

tered Parliament at the general election of 1885, for the central division of Leeds (re-elected 1886, 1892, 1895, 1900). In the third Salisbury administration (18951900) he was made Chief Secre tary for Ireland, without a seat in the cabinet. His Land Bill (1895) had a stormy passage, and local government was extended to Ireland in 1898, when a large grant was made to the landlords under the Tithe Rent Charge Bill (1900). Mr. Gerald Balfour's establishment of a department of agricul ture and technical instruction met with the approval of all parties in Ireland (1899). In 1900 he was transferred to the English Board of Trade, with a seat in the cabi

net.

Balfour, ISAAC BAYLEY (1853), professor of botany at Edinburgh University since 1888, son of John Hutton Balfour, who held the same chair(1845-79), was educated at Edinburgh; elected to the chair of botany at Glasgow (1879), where he remained until appointed Sherardian professor of botany at Oxford in 1884. He has published monographs on the flora of Rodriguez (1879) and of Socotra (1888), and edits (since 1887) the Annals of Botany.

Balfour, SIR JAMES (d. c. 1583), of Pittendreich, Scottish lawyer and statesman, son of Sir Michael Balfour of Mountquhanie, Fifeshire. For his share in the plot against Beaton he was sent (1547) with John Knox to the French galleys. On his return (1549) he became one of the most shameless political intriguers of his time, frequently betraying both Queen Mary's party and that of her opponents. He succeeded in secur ing the execution of Morton for the murder of Darnley, in which he himself was almost as deeply involved as Bothwell. In 1561 he was appointed lord president of the Court of Session. He had a partial connection with Balfour's Practicks, or A System of the Most Ancient Law of Scotland.

Balfour of Burleigh, LORD (1849). Alexander Hugh Bruce, a representative peer for Scotland, elected in 1876. In 1889-92 he was parliamentary secretary to the Board of Trade; in 1895-1903 was Secretary for Scotland, with a seat in the cabinet.

Balfrush, BALAFRUSH, or BARFRUSH (Pers. Barfurush), tn., Persia, prov. Mazanderan, separated from the cap.,Teheran (95 m. s.w.), by the Elburz Mts. It is an important commercial (provincial) centre, with a considerable trade in silks and cotton. Pop. 50,000 to 60,000.

Bali, or LITTLE JAVA, island (Lesser Sunda group) of Dutch E. Indies, immediately E. of Java. Its centre consists of volcanic mountains 7,500 to 10,500 ft. (Gu

Baliol

nong Agung). Its climate, vegetation, and native population semble those of E. Java. Dutch rule was established in 1849. The Siboga expedition (1899) ascertained that a submarine threshold, only 1,020 ft. from the surface, connects Bali with Lombok, thus disposing of the well-known 'Wallace's line.' Area, 4,063 sq.m. Pop. (1899) 1,044,757. See Scot. Geog Mag., 1900, pp. 44-46.

Bali, or BALLY, tn. on the Hugli, 4 m. N. of Howrah, Bengal, India. Pop. (1901) 18,662.

Balikesri, BALAK-HISSAR, or BALIK-SHEHR, tn., 75 m. s.w. of Brusa, Asia Minor, on a fertile plain; has a large fair on August 15. Pop. 15,000 to 20,000.

Balin and Balan, two brothers, knights, who came to Arthur's court. Balan went away on an adventure; but Balin, remaining behind, overheard a love passage between Lancelot and the queen, and rode away, mad with the dis covery. The two brothers met abroad, and, not recognizing one another, fought, and slew each other. See Tennyson's Idylls of the King (1869), Swinburne's The Story of Balin(1896), and Malory's Morte d'Arthur (Globe ed. 1868).

Balinag, pueb., former cap. of prov. Bulacan, Luzon, Philippine Is., 7 m. from Malolos. The language is Tagalog. Pop. (1903)

11.589.

Baliol, THE FAMILY OF, a wealthy family owning in Normandy the lands of Bailleul, Nyvelle, Harcourt, and other fiefs, prior to the Norman conquest.GUIDO DE BALIOL, who crossed with William I., received from William Rufus large estates in Durham and Northumberland, and his successors took an active part in Border warfare.-JOHN DE BALIOL (d. 1269) was regent of Scotland during Alexander III.'s minority, and founded Balliol College (1263).-JOHN DE BALIOL (1249-1315), king of Scotland, was third son of John de Baliol, On the death (1290) of Margaret, the Maid of Norway, grandchild of Alexander II., he claimed the throne of Scotland in right of his maternal grandmother, Margaret, eldest daughter of David, brother of William the Lion. Edward I. of England, a self-nominated arbiter, adjudged the throne to Baliol, and he was crowned at Scone (1292). The allegiance that he swore to Edward as overlord soon became intolerable, and after a revolt he was compelled to abdicate, and was imprisoned (1296); liberated (1299); died at Castle Galliard, Normandy (1315).-His son, EDWARD DE BALIOL (d.1363), king of Scotland, invaded Scotland at the head of the barons displaced by Bruce, and, landing at Kinghorn, Fife, defeated and slew the regent Mar at Dupplin

Balistes

Moor (1332), and was crowned at Scone; did homage to Edward III., to whom he subsequently surrendered ancient Lothian; compelled to take refuge in England from Scottish patriots under Sir Andrew Murray and Earl of Moray (1334); restored by Edward III.'s aid (1335); surrendered the kingdom of Scotland to Edward III. (1356) in return for a pension of £2,000; and died at Doncaster (1367), the last of his race.

Balistes. See FILE-FISH.

Baliuag, market town, province Bulacán, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on a branch of the Rio Grande de la Pampanga; 25 miles northwest of Manila.

It

541

Balkan Peninsula, or ILLYRIAN PENINSULA, the most easterly of the three great Mediterranean peninsulas of Southern Europe. It stretches southward from the Danube River and its tributary, the Save, as a broad quadrilateral of nearly 200,000 square miles, having the Black Sea on the east, the Sea of Marmora and the Egean Sea on the southeast and south respectively, and the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic on the west. The Bosporus connects the Sea of Marmora with the Black Sea, and the Strait of the Dardanelles continues the waterway to the Ægean Sea. The peninsula of the Chalcidice is mountainous

Balkan Peninsula

plain of the Danube on the south. The section which traverses Eastern Servia consists of limestone ridges rising to 6,500 feet, alternating with ranges of crysItalline schist yielding iron, lead, and copper ore. The Central Balkans form a long and nearly uniform ridge running easterly, with dome-like summits, reaching in Yumrukchal 7,790 feet, and clad on the flanks with forests of oak, beech, and fir. Bordering this central ridge on the north, and continuing the mountain region eastward after the main ridge has disappeared, are the East Balkans, with gradual slopes to the north, but steep declivities to the south, sinking

is located at the junction of seven roads, in the centre of a fertile and populous district. It manufactures hats, and fabrics of silk, cotton, and dyed Manila hemp. It was the first place in the Philippines to receive municipal government at the hands of the Americans after their occupation. Pop. 21,000.

Balize. See BELIZE.

Balkan Mountains, GREAT and LITTLE, a calcareous chain on the east side of the Caspian Sea, south of Aji Daria Bay, between 39° and 40° N. lat. Starting from the northern shores of Balkan Bay, the double chain runs southeasterly with a broad plain between, through which passes the Transcaspian Railway. The highest point, toward the southeastern extremity of the range, is about 5,310 feet. VOL. I.-Mar. '13

and deeply indented. The coasts of the secondary peninsula formed by the Greek extension are lofty and mountainous, and deeply Icleft by long indentations, forming good harbors. The Adriatic coast is flat to the mouth of the Drin; thence north to Fiume it is mountainous, and scalloped into a complicated series of peninsulas, with an outlying fringe of islands.

The term Balkan Mountains (ancient Hamus; cf. Cape Emine) is loosely applied to the whole mountain region of the north, but specifically to the range (Turkish, Khoja or Koja) which sweeps round from the Iron Gates of the Danube, where it is continuous with the Transylvanian Alps, first south, then curving easterly to Cape Emine, on the Black Sea, bordering the lower

to a series of intramontane basins, the most important being that of Sofia, from which the River Isker flows north to the Danube, breaking through the Balkans in a narrow gorge. South of these basins are several mountain masses, such as the Anti-Balkans, which overlook the valley of the Maritsa, the most considerable stream of Turkey proper. On its way to the Egean Sea this river circles round the eastern foothills of the gigantic mass of the Rhodope Balkans, buttressed by the peaks of Muss-Alla (9,615 ft.) and Rila Dagh (8,700 ft.), between which rises the great syenite mass of Vitosa (Vitosha), 7,515 feet.

Important factors in the political, social, and economic development of the peninsula are the

Balkan Peninsula

passes, many of which afford mere tracks for baggage animals. The great historic highway ('Diagonal Furrow') from Belgrade, on the Danube, to Constantinople, follows the valley of the Servian river Morava to the basin of Sofia, and then proceeds along the valley of the Maritsa. At one point near the basin of Sofia the mountains approach so closely that the Romans were able to barricade it with a thick wall (Trajan's Gate). The modern railway which follows this route avoids the gorge by ascending a side valley. Communication with the upper valley of the Nisava (Nishava), the principal tributary of the Morava, is facilitated by the Pass of Dragoman (2,380 ft.). The Pass of Vladaja (2,980 ft.) gives access to the valley of the Struma; the Pass of Güveshevo to the valley of the Vardar; the Pass of Ginci (Gintsi) to the Danube at Lom Palanka; the Baba Konak Pass to Plevna. The Shipka Pass, strategically important, crosses the Balkans, and connects Kazanlik with Tirnova. The two highest passes over this range are the Rabanica (6,285 ft.) and the Rosalita (6,160 ft.).

In the west the peninsula is occupied by the broad folds of the Dinaric Alps, the main chain of which (northwest to southeast) separates Dalmatia from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The chains show the peculiar features of the karst region, the loftiest peak being Mount Dinara (6,010 ft.), a dazzling mass of hippurite limestone.

Owing to the proximity of the mountains to the west coast, the rivers on that watershed are short, rapid, and useless for transport. On either side of the Chalcidice peninsula are the Vardar and the Struma, which flow to the Ægean Sea, and which have built up deltas. They are of little use for navigation, however, the Maritsa being the only navigable stream. The only river of size entering the Black Sea is the Danube.

The centre and the east coast, as far south as the Bosporus, have a climate intermediate between that of Central Europe and the south of Germany-the winter temperature often falling below zero F.; the summer temperature resembling that of the south of France. June is the month of greatest precipitation, but rain is fairly distributed throughout the year. Ægean coast has the Mediterranean climate; and the Adriatic coast, with its heavy rainfall, has a January temperature 7° F. VOL. I.-Mar. '13

The

541 A

higher than that of the east coast. The higher inland parts have a semi-continental climate, with extremes of -6° to 120° F. between summer and winter.

In the regions of summer rains the hills are covered with dense forests of oak and beech, in which roam large herds of swine; while the lowlands yield extensive crops of corn. The soil is poor on the exposed uplands, but rich and productive in the protected river valleys. Sheep and goats thrive on the treeless slopes of the southern hills. In Servia, two crops of hay and grain are harvested every year. In Bosnia, snowfalls and frosts may occur as late as the middle of May at an elevation of 1,500 feet.

The wolf and bear are found in the mountains; the deer and wild pig in the forests, the jackal,. buffalo, and Oriental fat-tailed sheep in the southern plains; vast flocks of water fowl along the Danube; and pheasants and partridges everywhere.

PEOPLE.-The population of the Balkans is extremely heterogeneous. It cannot be classified by racial differences nor religions, still less by political boundaries. The earliest historical inhabitants were the Illyrians, Greeks, and Dacians. The Thracians preceded them, but that fact is all that is definitely known about the latter people. The Illyrians are now represented by the Albanians, and the Dacians by the Roumanians. The Bulgars were the first Slav invaders, coming probably from the Volga districts of Finland from about the third century onward. The Vlachs are descendants of the Roman refugees of the third century. The Serbs and Croats came into the Peninsula from the Carpathian Mountains, beginning with the seventh century. The Turkish invasion began with the fourteenth century. There are also considerable numbers of Jews, Armenians, and Hungarians (Magyars).

Previous to the Balkan War (q. v.) of 1912, the Turkish population was scattered throughout the peninsula, except in the northeastern section of Bulgaria, in the territory westward fromConstantinople to Adrianople, and from the Black Sea south to the Sea of Marmora. were none in Greece, and few in Servia. Numerically, they constituted about one-tenth of the population of the Peninsula.

There

The latest (1912) estimates of the several peoples in the Peninsula are as follows: SerboCroats, 5,500,000; Greeks, 4,500,000; Bulgars, 4,500,000; Turks,

Balkan War, 1912-13

2,000,000; Albanians, 1,500,000; Vlachs, 500,000; others, 500,000.

For further particulars, see the articles on ALBANIA; BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA; BULGARIA; CROATIA-SLAVONIA; DALMATIA; GREECE; ILLYRIA; MACEDONIA; MONTENEGRO; SERVIA; TURKEY.

Consult Wyon's The Balkans from Within (1904); Durham's Through the Land of the Serb (1904); Villari's The Balkan Question (1905); Lyde's Military Geography of the Balkan Peninsula (1905); Durham's Burden of the Balkans (1905); De Windt's Through Savage Europe (1907); Singleton's Turkey and the Balkan States (1908); Holbach's Bosnia and Herzegovina (1908); · Trevor's My Balkan Tour (1911).

Balkan War, 1912-13. In February, 1912, the four Christian States of the Balkan Peninsula-Bulgaria, Servia, Greece, and Montenegro-after long endeavor on the part of some of their far-seeing rulers and statesmen, formed an alliance for the promotion of their common interests and the improvement of their standing in the family of nations. The chief of these interests was, at the moment, the enforcement of Article 23 of the Treaty of Berlin (q. v.), by which the great Powers guaranteed, and Turkey promised, local self-government for the Bulgar-Serb communities in Macedonia.

Their condition was indeed deplorable, and it was one of the reproaches of the civilized world. But the Powers, with the idea of hastening the day when the European dominions of the Porte would become their legitimate prey, found it better to their purpose to let massacre, extortion, and other outrages go on than to insist on a proper administrative régime for the Macedonian Christians, which might lead to a prolonged continuance of Turkish rule. So the Powers formed ententes to keep matters as they were; and after thirtyfour years, Bulgaria and Servia, which in the meantime had been growing more cultivated and humane, realized that only by joint action could the wretched status quo be destroyed.

· Military preparations went on quietly during the spring and summer of 1912, and by September the war spirit was so strong among the Balkan peoples that Turkey, under the guise of autumn manœuvres, began to assemble a large force near Adrianople against which move the great Powers successfully protested. An imperative ultimatum for administrative reform was presented to the Porte