Bee

Beer.

no 13.

the appellation apes urbane to the illuftrious men
Rome from the year 1630 to the year 1632.
BEE'S-Bread. See APIS, n° 12. par. ult.
BEE-Eater, in zoology. See MEROPS.
BEE-Flower. See OPHRYS.

BEE-Glue, called by the ancients propolis, is a foft, unctuous, glutinous matter, employed by bees to ceSee Apis, ment the combs to the hives, and to close up the cells BEE-Hives. See APIs, no 19, 28, 30. BEECH-TREE, in botany. See FAGUS. BEECH-Maft, the fruit of the beech-tree, faid to be good for fattening hogs, deer, &c.-It has fometimes, even to men, proved an useful substitute for bread. Chios is faid to have endured a memorable fiege by means of it.

BEECH-Oil, an oil drawn by expreffion from the maft of the beech-tree, after it has been fhelled and pounded. This oil is very common in Picardy, and used there and in other parts of France inftead of butter; but moft of thofe who take a great deal of it, complain of pains and a heavinefs in the ftomach.

BEEF, the flesh of black-cattle prepared for food. Lect. on According to Dr Cullen*, beef, though of a more Mat. Med. firm texture and lefs foluble than mutton, is equally alcalefcent, perfpirable, and nutritious: and if in the fouthern countries it is not efteemed.fo, it is on account of its imperfection there.

BEELE, a kind of pick-ax, ufed by the miners for feparating the ores from the rocks in which they lie: this inftrument is called a tubber by the miners of Cornwall. BEER, is a fpirituous liquor made from any farinaceous grain, but generally from barley. It is, properly fpeaking, the wine of barley. The meals of any of thefe grains being extracted by a fufficient quantity of water, and remaining at reft in a degree of heat requifite for the fpirituous fermentation, naturally under go this fermentation, and are changed into a vinous liquor. But as all these matters render the water mucilaginous, fermentation proceeds flowly and imperfectly in fuch liquors. On the other fide, if the quantity of farinaceous matter be fo diminished that its extract or decoction may have a convenient degree of fluidity, this liquor will be impregnated with fo fmall a quantity of fermentable matter, that the beer or wine of the grain will be too weak, and have too little tafte. Thefe inconveniences are remedied by preliminary operations which the grain is made to undergo.-Thefe preparations confift in fteeping it in cold water, that it foak and fwell to a certain degree; and in laying it in a heap with a fuitable degree of heat, by means of which, and of the imbibed moisture, a germination begins, which is to be stopped by a quick drying, as foon as the bud fhews itself. To accelerate this drying, and render it more complete, the grain is flightly roafted, by making it pafs down an inclined canal fufficiently heated. This germination, and this flight roafting, changes confiderably the nature of the mucilaginous fermentable matter of the grain. The germination attenuates much, and in fome measure totally deftroys, the vifcofity of the mucilage; and it does this, when not carried too far, without depriving the grain. of any of its difpofition to ferment. On the contrary, it changes the grain into a faccharine fubftance, as may be perceived by mafhing grains beginning to germi nate. The flight roasting contributes alfo to attenuate

may

Foreigners have framed divers conjectures to account for the excellency of the British beer, and its fuperiority to that of other countries, even of Bremen, Mons, and Roftoch. It has been pretended, our brewers throw dead dogs flea'd into their wort, and boil them till the flesh is all confumed. Others, more equitable, attribute the excellency of our beer to the quality of our malt and water, and the skill of our brewers in preparing it.

Sour beer may be reftored divers ways; as by falt made of the ashes of barley-ftraw, put into the veffel, and stirred; or by three or four handfuls of beechafhes thrown into the veffel, and stirred; or, where the liquor is not very four, by a little pot in a bag, without ftirring: chalk calcined, oyfter-fhells, egg-fhells burnt, fea-fhells, crabs eyes, alcalized coral, &c. do the fame, as they imbibe the acidity, and unite with it into a fweetnefs.-Beer, it is faid, may be kept from turning four in fummer, by hanging into the veffel a bag containing a new-laid egg, pricked full of little pin-holes, fome laurel-berries, and a few barley-grains; or by a new-laid egg and walnut-tree leaves. Glauber commends his fal mirabile and fixed nitre, put in a linen bag, and hung on the top of the cafk so as to reach the liquor, not only for recovering four beer, but preferving and ftrengthening it.

be re

Laurel-berries, their fkin being peeled off, will keep beer from deadness; and beer already dead may ftored by impregnating it with fixed air *. Beer tafting of the cafk may be freed from it by put ting a handful of wheat in a bag, and hanging it in the veffel.

BEESTINGS, or BREASTINGS, a term ufed by country-people for the first milk taken from a cow af ter calving.-The beetings are of a thick confiftence, and yellow colour, feeming impregnated with fulphur. Dr Morgan imagines them peculiarly fitted and intended by nature to cleanfe the young animal from the recrements gathered in its ftomach and inteftines during its long habitation in utero. The like quality and virtue he fuppofes in womens firft milk after delivery; and hence infers the neceffity of the mother's fuckling her own child, rather than committing it to a nurse whofe firft milk is gone.

BEET, in botany. See BETA.

BEETLE, in the hiftory of infects. See SCARA

proach the country inhabited by the plundering Curds and Turkmans. The pachas of Syria are as much interefted in guarding against the depredations of the wandering Arabs, as the Turkish governors on the Perfian frontier. As it is of great confequence to the cities of Aleppo and Damafcus (which fee) that their caravans travelling to Bagdad or Baf. fora fhould be fuffered to pafs in fafety through the defert, the pachas, in order to protect them from infult and pillage, artfully venture to employ one tribe of Arabs against the reft; and with this view they give the title of Emir to the moft powerful fcheik in the neighbourhood. To him they pay an annual fum, or the produce of a certain number of villages, for guiding the caravans, for keeping the other Arabs in awe, and for levying the dues from thofe who feed their cattle on the pacha's grounds. The moft powerful tribe near Aleppo, is denominated "Mauali," befides which, there are many other tribes, amounting to twenty, or more, who pay a trifling fum to the Emir for liberty to hire out or fell their camels, and to feed their cattle through the country. Other tribes pay a tax for the privilege of gathering falt in the "Defert of Salt." In the vicinity of Damafcus there are numerous tribes, one of which, named "Abu Salibe," it is faid, confifts folely of Chriftians. The greatest tribe in the defert of Syria is that called "Anæfe," which is fpread into Nedsjed, and reckoned the most numerous tribe in the heart of Arabia. The caravans of Turkifh pilgrims pay the Bedoweens of this tribe a confiderable duty for their free paffage through the country; when diffatisfied, they plunder the caravans, and they often make war on the pacha of Damafcus. The Bedoweens, who occupy thofe countries, that are ufually comprehended under the appellation of "Arabia Petræa," or the deferts that lie between Egypt, Syria, and Arabia, properly fo called, are diftributed into feveral tribes which wander among dry fands and rocks, feeking fome few interfperfed fpots, that afford fcanty food for their cattle. The Arabs of Palestine feem to be poor neglected hordes, who inhabit that barren and difmal country; and the pilgrims that vifit the Holy Land have given exaggerated relations of the molestations and injury which they have fuffered from them.

Of the Bedoweens, there are feveral tribes, who arrive every year in Egypt after the inundation, from the heart of África, to profit by the fertility of the country, and who in the fpring retire into the depths of the defert. Others of thefe are ftationary in Egypt, where they farm lands, which they fow, and annually change. All of them obferve among themselves ftated limits, which they never pafs, on pain of war. They all lead nearly the fame kind of life, and have the fame manners and cuftoms. Ignorant and poor, they preferve an original character diftinct from furrounding nations. Pacific in their camp, they are every where also in an habitual state of war. Some of thefe, difperfed in families, inhabit the rocks, caverns, ruins, and fequeftered places where there is water; others, united in tribes, encamp under low and fmoaky tents, and pafs their lives in perpetual journeyings, fometimes in the defert, fometimes on the banks of rivers; having no other attachment to the foil, than what arifes from their own fafety, or the fubfiftence of their flocks. The husbandmen, whom they pillage, hate them; the travellers whom they defpoil, fpeak ill of them; and the Turks, who dread them, endeavour to divide and corrupt them. It is calculated that the different tribes of them in Egypt might form a body of 30,cco horsemen; but thefe are fo difperfed and difunited, that they are only confidered as robbers and vagabonds. The young women among the Bedoweens of Egypt might be

reckoned not deftitute of beauty, fays Sonnini; though they have a tawny hue, and indelible compartments, not eafily reconcilable to the eyes of an European, which they painfully mark on the lower part of the face, with a needle and a black dye. The men are, in general, very handfome. A fimple and uniform mode of life, uninjured by excefs, prolongs their exiftence to the period fixed by nature. They live to be very old, and at an advanced age, they are remark able for their truly venerable and patriarchal phyfiognomy. Thofe, however, who are wandering, predatory, and wretched, arefor the most part of a flender make and mean appear. ance. Some of the Egyptian Bedoweens have among them a tradition, that their ancestors were Europeans and Chrif. tians, one of whofe fhips having been wrecked on the coaft of Egypt, the crew had been plundered, and reduced to the neceflity of living in the defert. The only remnant they have of the fuppofed Chriftianity of their forefathers is the fign of the crois, which they traced with their fingers upon the fand. In the plans that have been adopted in Egypt, under Ali Bey, for preventing robbery and establishing public tranquillity, the extermination of the Bedoweens has been a principal object. Several hordes fell victims to the policy of the governor; and whole tribes retired into the defert. However, the people of Egypt, far from approving thofe means of protecting their property, murmured aloud at the fcarcity of camels, fheep, and other animals, with which the Bedoweens had been accustomed to fupply them in great abundance, though it was their practice to fteal the property which they had fold. It has fince appeared, that the profperity of Egypt is intimately connected with the prefervation of the Bedoweens.

To the above accounts of the Bedoweens, extracted from modern travellers, we fhall fubjoin the defeription given of their ancestors above 1800 years ago by Diodorus Siculus, 1. xix.

"The wandering Arabs dwell in the open country, without any roof. They themselves call their country a folitude. They do not chufe for their abode places abounding in rivers and fountains, left that allurement alone should draw enemies into their neighbourhood. Their law or their custom forbids them to fow corn, to plant fruit-trees, to make ufe of wine, or to inhabit houfes. He who fhould violate thefe ufages would be punished infallibly with death, because they are perfuaded, that whoever is capable of fubjecting himself to fuch conveniences, would foon fubmit to mafters in order to preferve them. Some lead their camels to graze, fome their fheep. The latter are the wealthiest; for, befides the advantages they derive from their flocks, they go to fell in the fea-ports frankincenfe, myrrh, and other precious aromatics, which they have received in exchange from the inhabitants of Arabia Felix. Extremely jealous of their liberty, at the news of the approach of an army, they take refuge in the depth of the deferts, the extent of which ferves them as a rampart. The enemy, in fact, perceiving no water, could not dare to traverse them, whilft the Arabs, being furnished with it by means of veffels concealed in the earth, with which they are acquainted, are in no danger of this want. The whole foil being compofed of clayey and foft earth, they find means to dig deep and vaft cisterns, of a fquare form, each fide of which is the length of an acre. Having filled them with rain-water, they close up the entrance, which they make uniform with the neighbouring ground, leaving fome imperceptible token, known only to themfelves. They accustom their flocks to drink only once in three days, fo that when they are obliged to fly across these parched fands, they may be habituated to fupport thirit. As for

them.

themfelves, they live on flesh and milk, and common and ordinary fruits. They have in their fields the tree which bears pepper; and a great deal of wild honey, which they drink with water. There are other Arabs who cultivate the earth. They are tributary, like the Syrians, and refemble them in other refpects, except that they do not dwell in houses. Such are pretty nearly the manners of this people." Volney's Travels in Egypt and Syria, vol. i. Niebuhr's Travels through Arabia, &c. vol. ii. p. 158183. Sonnini's Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt, P. 303.317-322. 390. Savary's Letters in Egypt, vol.ii. p. 274, &c. See ARABIA.

BEDR, or BEDDER HOUNEINE, in Geography, a place of Arabia, 20 miles from Medina, and 40 from Mecca, lying in the high road of the caravan of Egypt. The fertile vale of Bedr is rendered famous by the battle fought between Mahomet and the Koreifh of Mecca, in the fecond year of the Hegira, A. D. 623. In this vale Mahomet was informed by his fcouts of the caravan that approached on one fide, and of the Koreifh, confifting of 100 horfe, and 850 foot, who advanced on the other. After a fhort debate, the holy prophet facrificed the profpect of wealth to the purfuit of glory and revenge; and a flight intrenchment was formed to cover his troops, and a ftream of fresh water that glided through the valley. "O God," he exclaimed, as the Koreish defcended from the hills, "O God, if these are deftroyed, by whom wilt thou be worshipped on the earth? Courage, my children, clofe your ranks; difcharge your arrows, and the day is your own." At thefe words he placed himfelf, with Abubeker, on a throne or pulpit, and inftantly demanded the fuccour of Gabriel and 3000 angels. His eye was fixed on the field of battle; the Muffulmans fainted and were preffed in that decifive moment the prophet ftarted from his throne, mounted his horse, and caft a handful of fand into the air: "Let their faces be covered with confufion." Both armies heard the thunder of his voice; their fancy beheld the angelic warriors; the Koreifh trembled and fled; feventy of the bravest were flain; and feventy captives adorned the first victory of the faithful. The dead bodies of the Koreifh were defpoiled and infulted; two of the moft ob noxious prifoners were punished with death; and the ranfom of the others, 4000 drams of filver, compensated in fome degree the efcape of the caravan. Herbelot. Bib. Orient. p. 180. Gibbon's Hift. vol.ix. p. 300.

BEDRIACUM, in Ancient Geography, a village of Italy, fituate, according to Tacitus, between Verona and Cremona, or about 16 miles from the confluence of the Adda and Po. Cluvier places it between Cremona and Mantua, and fuppofes it to have been the prefent Caneto, a large village on the left of the Oglio. M. d'Anville thinks that it was the place now called Cividale on the right fide of that river. It is famous for two battles fought within a month by Romans againt Ronans, A. D. 69; in the firft of which the emperor Galba was defeated by Otho, and in the fecond Otho was defeated by Vitellius.

BEDRIEGER, GROOTE BEDRIEGER, in Ichthyology, a name given by fome to the parus infidiator of Pallas and Gmelin. Vide Ruyfch, theatr. &c.

BEDRIP, or BEDREPE, OF BEDERAPE, the customary fervice which inferior tenants anciently paid their lord, by cutting down his corn, or doing other work in the field. The word is formed from the Saxon biddon, to pray, and repe, to reap, or cut corn.

BEDROLA, in Geography, a town of Spain, in Arragon; 8 leagues from Sanguefa.

BEDSTRAW, in Botany. See GALIUM. BEDUSTA, in Ancient Geography, the ancient Hindoo name of the river Hydafpes, or the modern BEHUT. BEDWIN, GREAT, in Geography, is an ancient borough town fituated on the eastern fide of the county of Wilts, in England; at the diftance of 70 miles west of London, and 17 miles north from Salisbury. It is an ancient borough by prescription, and fent members to all the parlia ments of Edward the firft. During fome parts of the fub. fequent reigns, it intermitted feuding; but from the 9th of Henry V., two members have conftantly reprefented the borough. Thefe are elected by about eighty perfons who poffefs freeholds, or inhabit ancient burgage houfes. The town is governed by a port-reve, affifted by a bailiff, and fome inferior officers, all of whom are chofen by the former. Bedwin had formerly a market on Tuesday, but this has been difcontinued for fome years, in confequence of its proximity to the larger market town of Marlborough. Dr. Stukely and fome other antiquaries have given to this place the honours of a Roman ftation, and a Saxon city; but there is little proof or probability, that it was ever the former. There are fome entrenchments remaining on a hill fouth of the town, where it is faid Ciffa erected a castle, and where he feated himself as viceroy of Wiltshire and Berkshire. Towards the end of the feventh century, a fevere and deftructive battle was fought near this town, between Wulfhere, king of Mercia, and Æfcuin, a powerful Saxon nobleman, when, as Mr. Turner in his Anglo-Saxon Hiftory, characteristically obferves," mutual deftruction. was more confpicuous, than the decifion" of the battle. The church of Bedwin is a large ancient structure, built moftly with flints, and fhaped in the form of a cross. Among the monuments it contains, is one to fir John Seymour, who was father of the protector, and of the unfortunate lady Jane Seymour. According to the tradition of the neighbourhood, this lady was married to the tyrannic monarch at a place called Wolf-hall near Bedwin, where fir John Seymour then refided.

Here are two annual fairs. The parish contains 316 houfes,, and 1632 inhabitants, moft of whom are employed in agriculture. The famous Oxonian phyfician, Dr. Thomas Willis, was born here.

About two miles weft of the town is Tottenham park, a feat of the earl of Aylcfbury. The house was built by the celebrated earl of Burlington, on the fite of an ancient palace belonging to the marquis of Hertford, who was afterwards created duke of Somerfet. Tottenham-park is part of the foreft of Savernake, which is the only private foreft in England independently belonging to a fubject. It is a large tract of wild ground, profufely wooded, and containing much fine old oak timber.

BEE, APIS, in Natural Hiflory, a genus of the Hymenopterous order, in the Linnæan claffification of infects; of the common honey-bee (apis mellifica), although likewife in Phyfiology, and in Husbandry, more commonly expreffive applicable to the various other fpecies of honey-bees; and in a fill more general fenfe to thofe which do not, as well as thofe which do, produce honey; thofe which live in focieties, as well as thofe which lead a life of folitude, or independence from their kindred kinds; all which have a certain appearance and caft of character, which, in the common acceptation of the word, claim the diftinctive epithet of bee, or honey-bee, humble bee, wild bee, &c.

The bee, or apis tribe, is characterised in the Linnæan fyftem as having, in common with other hymenopterous infects, four membranaceous wings, and the female being

armed