a province of Spain, bounded on the north by the sea called the Bay of Biscay, on the south by Old Castile, on the west by Asturias of Santiana, and on the east by the territories of Alava and Guipuscoa. It is in length about seventy-four miles; but the breadth is much less, and very unequal. This country in general is mountainous and barren; but in some places it produces corn, and everywhere a great quantity of apples, oranges, and citrons. They make cider with the apples, which is their common drink. Besides this, they have wine called chacolino, which is pleasant, but will not keep long, and therefore is used instead of small beer. Their valleys produce a little flax, and their hills a great deal of timber for ships. The sea affords them excellent fish of all sorts. The wool that is exported here comes from Old Castile; but their greatest riches are produced by their mines of iron; which metal is extremely good, and is transported to all parts. They have likewise artificers that work in iron; and are, in particular, famous for working swords and knives. Biscay is the country of the ancient Cantabri, so imperfectly subdued by Augustus, and so slightly annexed to the Roman empire. Their mountains have in all ages afforded them temptations and opportunities of withdrawing themselves from every yoke that has been attempted to be imposed upon them. Their language is accounted aboriginal, and unmixed with either Latin, French, or Spanish. It is so totally different from the Castilian, that we seldom meet with any of the peasants that understand one word of Spanish. The Biscayners are stout, brave, and choleric to a proverb. The best sailors in Spain belong to the ports of Biscay, and its mountains produce a very valuable race of soldiers. Their privileges are very extensive, and they watch over them with a jealous eye. They have no bishops in the province, and style the king only Lord of Biscay. The men are well-built and active, like all mountaineers. The most singular thing in their dress is the covering of their legs: they wrap a piece of coarse gray or black woollen cloth round them, and fasten it on with many turns of tape. The women are beautiful, tall, light, and merry; their garb is neat and pastoral; their hair falls in long plaits down their backs; and a veil or handkerchief, twisted round in a coquetish manner, serves them for a very becoming head-dress. On Sundays they generally wear white, tied with rose-coloured knots. The population of Biscay in 1788 was only 310,758, of whom 4100 were monks and nuns.

Biscay, New, a province of North America, in the audience of Guadalajara. It has New Mexico on the north, Culiacan on the west, Zacatecas on the south, and Panuco with Florida on the east. It is about 300 miles from east to west, and 360 from north to south. In general it is well watered, fruitful, moderately temperate, and abounds in all sorts of provisions, except the mountains of Topia, which are barren. The original inhabitants are not all brought under subjection, they having four large towns in the marshes, that are of difficult access; for this reason the Spaniards have built three small fortified towns, which are well inhabited, for the defence of their silver mines. The latitude is from 25 to 28 degrees.

BISCHOFISHEIM, a town of Germany, in the county of Hanau Munzenberg, and now included in the territory of the free town of Frankfort. It is three miles east of Hanau. E. Long. 9. 2. N. Lat. 50. 5.