a small province of Turkey in Europe, bounded on the north by Wallachia, on the east by the Black Sea, on the south by Romania and Macedonia, Bulgaria ancients inhabited the plains of Sarmatia that extended along the banks of the Volga. Thence they migrated, about the middle of the 7th century of the Christian era, in quest of new settlements. A large body of them passed the Danube, and took possession of the country adjacent to the western coast of the Euxine sea. Several attempts were made by the Romans to dispossess and extirpate them; but they defended themselves with equal resolution and success. Constantine III., being defeated and intimidated, concluded an ignominious peace with them (A.D. 678), and purchased their friendship by the payment of an annual tribute. Justinian II. refused to comply with these dishonourable terms, and invaded their territories (A.D. 687); but he was defeated, and constrained to renew the treaty. War was carried on, almost without interruption, between them and the Eastern emperors, during the course of several centuries. After a long and doubtful struggle, the Romans prevailed; and the emperor Basil reduced Bulgaria to the form of a province (A.D. 1019). From this time the Bulgarians remained in subjection, and were governed by Roman dukes, until the reign of Isaac Angelus, when they revolted (A.D. 1186).

The history of Bulgaria, in the subsequent period, scarcely merits attention. Stephen IV., king of Hungary, having defeated the Bulgarians, obliged them to acknowledge him as their sovereign. His successors were styled kings of Hungary and Bulgaria; and this title was transmitted, together with the kingdom of Hungary, to the house of Austria.

By the aid of the Eastern emperors they threw off the Hungarian yoke; and, in return, they afforded their ally in an attempt to recover Adrianople (A.D. 1369). Provoked by this combination, Amurath invaded their country; and Bajazet, his successor, completed the conquest of it (A.D. 1396).

Bulgaria still remains a province of the Ottoman empire. The inhabitants are Christians; but extremely ignorant, inasmuch that they seem to know nothing of Christianity but baptism and fasting. It is divided into four sangiacates; Byden, Sardice, Nicopolis, and Silistra. The chief towns are of the same names, except Sardice, which is now called Sophia.

**Bulgarian Language**, the same with the Slavonic.

**Bulimy**, a disease in which the patient is affected with an insatiable and perpetual desire of eating; and, unless he is indulged, he often falls into fainting fits. It is also called *fames canina*, canine appetite. See Medicine-Index.

**Bulithus**, a stone found either in the gall-bladder, or in the kidneys and bladder, of an ox. See Bos.

**Bulk of a Ship**, the whole content in the hold for the stowage of goods.

**Bulk-Heads** are partitions made athwart the ship with boards, by which one part is divided from the other; as the great cabin, gun-room, bread-room, and several other divisions. The bulk-head afore is the partition between the fore-castle and gratings in the head.

Vol. III. Part II.