astronomy, two zones or girdles surrounding the body of the planet of Jupiter. See Astronomy.

geography, certain straits between the German Ocean and the Baltic. The belts belong to the king of Denmark, who exacts a toll from all ships which pass through them, excepting those of Sweden, which are exempted.

Beltein, a superstitious custom observed in the Highlands of Scotland. It is a kind of rural sacrifice, performed by the herdsmen of every village on the first of May. They cut a square trench on the ground, leaving a turf in the middle; on that they make a fire of wood, on which they dress a large cauldle of eggs, butter, oatmeal, and milk; and bring, besides the ingredients of the cauldle, plenty of beer and whisky; for each of the company must contribute something. The rites begin with spilling some of the cauldle on the ground, by way of libation; on that, every one takes a cake of oatmeal, upon which are raised nine square knobs, each dedicated to some particular being, the supposed preserver of their flocks and herds, or to some particular animal, the real destroyer of them; each person then turns his face to the fire, breaks off a knob, and flinging it over his shoulder, says, This I give to thee, preserve thou my horses; this to thee, preserve thou my sheep; and so on. After that, they use the same ceremony to the noxious animal: This I give to thee, O fox! spare thou my lambs; this to thee, O hooded crow! this to thee, O eagle! When the ceremony is over, they dine on the cauldle; and after the feast is finished, what is left is hid by two persons deputed for that purpose; but on the next Sunday they re-assemble and finish the reliques of the first entertainment.