A Literary and Historical Atlas of Asia. J. G. Bartholomew
ceded to Holland in exchange for Malacca, 1824.
Bendemeer, Persia. 30N. 52E. (See Thos. Moore's 'Lalla Rookh,' story of the 'Veiled Prophet of Khorassan.')
Berasia, Central India. 24N. 77E. Contains tomb of his father built by Dost Mohammed.
Berea, Palestine. 32N. 35E. Battle fought in which Judas Maccabæus was killed, 161 B.C.
Berezov, Siberia. 64N. 65E. F. in 1593. Partially burnt, 1719, 1808. Prince Menshikov died in exile, 1729; Prince Dolgoruki, 1730. General Ostermann exiled, 1742; died, 1747.
Berghama, Asiatic Turkey. 39N. 27E. Ancient capital of Pergamus, and contains many magnificent ruins; bequeathed to Romans by Attalus III., 133 B.C. Bp. of Galen and Apollodorus.
Berhampur, Bengal. 24N. 88E. Indian Mutiny originated here, 1857.
Besika, Asia Minor. 40N. 26E. Bay used as station for British fleet, 1853–1854, 1877–1878.
Bethany, Palestine. 32N. 35E. Frequently mentioned in the Bible as the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, Simon the leper. Contains alleged tomb of Lazarus, and village is now called 'El-Azariyeh,' the 'Place of Lazarus.'
Bethel ('house of God'), Palestine. 32N. 35E. Supposed to have been f. by Abraham or Jacob. Rachel and Deborah died at Bethel.
Beth-horon ('place of caves'), Palestine. 32N. 35E. The Syrians under Prince Sorom vanquished by Judas Maccabæus.
Bethlehem ('house of bread'), Palestine. 33N. 35E. Bp. of David and of Christ. Devastated by Hadrian, 132. Contains Church of the Nativity built by Constantine; enlarged by Justinian; embellished by Manuel Comnenus, 1170; by Edward IV. and Philip of Burgundy, 1482. Burial-place of Jerome. (See Kinglake's 'Eothen,' Twain's 'New Pilgrim's Progress,' Lamartine's 'Voyage en Orient,' 'Purchas His Pilgrimes,' Thomson's 'Land and the Book.')
Beyrout, Syria. 34N. 35E. Destroyed by Tryphon, 140 B.C.; taken by Arabs, 635; by Baldwin, 1111; re-captured by Saladin, 1187; by Turks, 1763. Lamartine's only daughter died here, 1832. (See Kinglake's 'Eothen,' Burton's 'Wanderings in Three Continents,' Lamartine's 'Voyage en Orient,' Thomson's 'Land and the Book,' Volney's 'Voyage en Syrie et en Egypte.')
Bhadaur, Punjab. 30N. 75E. F. by Sirdar Dunna Singh, 1718; res. of Bhadaur chiefs.
Bhagalpur, Bengal. 25N. 87E. Contains famous Jain temples, and native monument to Augustus Cleveland.
Bhagwangola, Bengal. 24N. 88E. Unsuccessfully besieged by Mahrattas, 1743; burnt by Mahrattas, 1750. Temporary res. of Surajah Dowlah.
Bhainsrorgarh, Rajputana. 25N. 76E. Said to have been f. by Bhainsa Sah; captured by Ala-ud-din, c. 1303.
Bhanpura, Rajputana. 25N. 76E. Res. and burial-place of Jaswant Rao Holkar.
Bhartpur ('city of Bhurat'), Rajputana. 27N. 78E. Unsuccessfully stormed by Lord Lake, 1805; taken by Lord Combermere, 1826. Under British administration, 1853. (See Malleson's 'Decisive Battles of India.')
Bhatner, Punjab. 30N. 74E. Captured and partially destroyed by Tamerlane, 1398.
Bhilsa, Rajputana. 24N. 78E. Contains mosques built by Akbar, 1583; by Aurungzebe, 1682. Plundered by Altamsh, 1235; seized by Ala-ud-din, 1290.
Bhojpur, Bombay. 19N. 74E. Contains stones bearing ancient carvings and inscription dating from c. 200 B.C.
Bhubaneswar, Bengal. 20N. 86E. Sacred city of the followers of Siva; of great antiquity.
Bhuj, Bombay. 23N. 70E. Taken by storm by Sir William Kier, 1819.
Bidar, Haidarabad. 18N. 78E. Captured by Ulugh Khan, 1321; by Aurungzebe, 1656.
Biderra, Bengal. 23N. 88E. Colonel Forde conquered Dutch under Colonel Roussel, 1759. (See Malleson's 'Decisive Battles of India.')
Bijanagur ('city of triumph'), Madras. 16N. 77E. F. in 1336; destroyed by Mohammedan kings, 1564. Contains temples made of granite.
Bijapur ('city of victory'), Bombay. 17N. 76E. Taken by Aurungzebe, 1686; given to Rajah of Satara by British, 1818.
Bilsa, Bengal. 24N. 88E. Remarkable Buddhist remains discovered by English travellers, 1822; contains tomb of Mussulman, Djelal-ed-din Bhokhary.
Bimlipatam, Madras. 18N. 83E. Captured by Mahrattas, 1754; ceded to British by Dutch, 1825.
Bindraban, Bengal. 26N. 88E. Krishna is supposed to have passed his childhood here, and several temples are erected in his honour.
Birsinha, Bengal. 23N. 88E. Bp. of Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, writer of 'Sitar Banabas.'
Bisauli, United Provs. 28N. 79E. Res. and burial-place of Dunde Khan.
Bithur, United Provs. 27N. 80E. One of chief centres of worship of Brahma. Nana Sahib here defeated by Havelock during Mutiny, 1857.
Bitlis, Asiatic Turkey. 38N. 42E. Supposed to have been f. by Alexander the Great. Taken by Arabs, 648. Scene of defeat of Solyman by Persians, 1554.
Blagovieshtchensk ('city of the annunciation'), Siberia. 76N. 146E. F. in 1856; capital of Amur district, 1858. Attacked unsuccessfully by Chinese, 1900. (See Fraser's 'Real Siberia.')
Boca Tigris ('the tiger's mouth'), China. 23N. 114E. Entrance to the Canton river, containing fortified islands taken by British, 1841, 1856.
Bodinayakkanur, Madras. 10N. 77E. Captured by Hyder Ali, 1776.
Bokhara ('a church'), Turkestan. 40N. 65E. Burnt by Djenghis-Khan, 1221. Contains 360 mosques and many colleges. Scene of youth of Zelica and Azim in Moore's 'Lalla Rookh.'
Bombay, Bombay. 19N. 73E. Ceded to Portugal, 1530; part of marriage-portion of Catherine of Portugal, 1661; British established themselves here, 1666.
Borsad, Bombay. 22N. 73E. Res. of Rangoji, 1741; here made prisoner, 1748.
Botad, Bombay. 22N. 72E. Town near which is tomb of Pir Hamir Khan, Mussulman saint.
Brahmakund, Bengal. 28N. 96E. Pool which was the scene of an incident in which Parasu Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, took part.
Brahmapuri, Bombay. 18N. 76E. Res. of Aurungzebe from 1695 to 1700.
Brahmini, Bengal. 21N. 86E. Famous as scene of wooing of Matsya Gandha, mother of alleged compiler of 'Mahabharata' and the Vedas.
Broach, Bombay. 22N. 73E. Captured by British, 1772; ceded to Scindia, 1783; re-captured by British, 1803.
Brusa, Asiatic Turkey. 40N. 29E. Former capital of Bithynia. F. by Prusus II., King of Bithynia. Captured by Sultan Orkhan of Turkey, 1326; plundered by Tartars, 1402; suffered from earthquakes, 1855.
Budaun, United Provs. 28N. 78E. Supposed to have been f. c. 905. Seized by Kutb-ud-din, 1196; joined in Mutiny, 1857. Res. of Ala-ud-din.
Buddha-Gaya, Bengal. 25N. 85E. Formerly centre of worship of Buddha, and contains sacred pipal-tree under which Sakyamuni reached Buddhahood. Visited by Hieun Tsiang, 635.
Budihaul, Madras. 14N. 76E. Captured by Hyder Ali, 1761; by Mahrattas, 1771, 1790.
Budrum, Asiatic Turkey. 37N. 27E. F. on site of ancient Halicarnassus. Contains a fortress built by the knights of Rhodes, 1402. Bp. of Herodotus and Dionysius.
Burhanpur, Central Provs. 21N. 76E. F. by Nasir Khan, c. 1400; adorned by Akbar, 1600.