the principal of a cluster of islands on the south-west side of the Persian Gulf, near the Arabian shore. This island, which is about twelve miles from the coast, is one of the finest in the gulf, and is covered with villages and date gardens. The town and fort of Manama, which contains about 800 or 900 houses, carries on a considerable trade with Bassora and other ports in the gulf. Here is a harbour admitting vessels of 200 tons, which trade to Burshire, and with a fair wind make the voyage in fourteen hours. This island has always been famous for its pearl fishery. Its banks produce the finest pearls in the world. They are found in a small mussel which is attached to the bottom by a thin fibre of great length. This is cut by the diver from a depth of three fathoms. These pearls are of two sorts, white and yellow; and are sent to India, and through Bassora and Baghdad into Asia. The fishery is farmed out by the different chiefs on the coast, who draw a large revenue from this source. It employs annually about 2500 boats, each with from eight to fifteen men. The gains of the divers do not average more than from 40 to 50 Spanish dollars in a season. These islands once belonged to the Portuguese, and afterwards fell under the dominion of an Arabian chief, from whom they were seized by the Persians. They were afterwards taken possession of by the Wahabees. Bahrain is also the name of a province in Arabia. See ARABIA.

BALE, an ancient town of Campania, in Italy, situated between the promontory of Misenum and Puteoli, on the Sinus Baianus, and famous for its warm springs and baths, which served the wealthier Romans for the purposes both of health and pleasure. The variety of these baths, the softness of the climate, and the beauty of the landscape, captivated the minds of the opulent nobles, whose passion for bathing knew no bounds. Hitler retired for temporary relaxation the mighty rulers of the world, to recruit their strength and revive their spirits, fatigued with bloody campaigns and civil contests. Their habitations at first were small and modest; but increasing luxury soon added palace to palace with such expedition, that ground could no longer be found for new erections; while enterprising architects, supported by boundless wealth, carried their foundations into the sea, and drove that element back from its ancient limits. From being a place of occasional resort for a season, Baiae grew up into a regular city, and the confluence of wealthy inhabitants rendered it as much a miracle of art as it had before been of nature. Its great splendour is still attested by innumerable ruins, heaps of marbles, mosaics, stucco, and other precious relics of the past. It flourished in undiminished magnificence till the days of Theodoric the Goth; but the destruction of these enchanted palaces followed quickly upon the irruption of the northern conquerors, who overturned the Roman power, sacked and burned all before them, and destroyed or dispersed the whole race of nobility. When the guardian hand of man was withdrawn, the sea rushed back upon its old domain; moles and buttresses were torn asunder and washed away; and promontories, with the proud towers that once crowned their brows, were undermined and tumbled into the deep. Yet, in its ruined state, and stripped of all its ornaments, Baiae still presents many striking objects for the admiration of the traveller and the pencil of the artist. Long. 14.3. E. Lat. 40.50. N.