PONTRESINA 3(r5 POONA PONTRESINA, a tourist center in the Swiss canton of Grisons, stands in the Upper Engadine, on the road connecting with the Bernina Pass, and is much fre- quented by Alpine climbers. PONTUS, in ancient geography, the N. E. province of Asia Minor, bounded N. by the Euxine Sea, W. by Galatia and Paphlagonia, S. by Cappadocia and part of Armenia, and E. by Cholchis. It was originally governed by kings, and was in its most flourishing state under Mithri- dates the Great. The geographer Strabo was born in Amasia, its capital; and one Oif its principal towns, Trapezus, still flourishes under the name of Trebizond. PONTTTS EUXINUS. See Black Sea. PONY, a term applied to several sub- varieties or races of horses, generally of smaller size than the ordinary horses, and which are bred in large flocks and herds in various parts of the world, chiefly for purposes of riding and of lighter draught work. Among well- known breeds are the Welsh, Shetland, Iceland, Exmoor, New Forest, and Scotch Highland. POODLE, a breed of dog whose origin dates from the beginning of the 17th century or earlier. The poodle varies considerably in his appearance, and at- tempts have been made to divide the breed into several sections, such as the large and small variety, or the corded coated and fleecy coated variety, as also into black Russian and white German poodles; but none of these divisions are very clearly defined. The large black Russian poodle is much the most hand- some and agile specimen of the race, and may be easily trained to retrieve. The small white poodle is only fit for a house dog, but is extremely clever. For some unknown reason the poodle has always been clipped in a peculiar manner; with the exception of a few tufts, his body and hindquarters are entirely bare, while the coat on his shoulders is left long. POOL, a game played on a pool table. The pool table is constructed exactly the same as a billiard table, excepting the fact that it has four or six apertures in the rails, through one of which it is necessary to drive a ball to make a count, the ball so driven being propelled froin the force imparted by being struck by the cue ball. A pyramid of 15 balls is placed at a given spot on the table and the game is ended, if there are but two players, when eight balls are pocketed, as that is a majority of the 15 object balls. ^ Variations in this game have been introduced. Also, an arrangement between several competing lines of railway, by which the total receipts of each company are pooled, and distributed pro rata accord- ing to agreement. A combination of persons contributing money to be used, for the purpose of increasing or depress- ing the market price of stocks, with a view to the settlement of differencea Also the stock or money contributed by a clique to carry through a corner. Also, a gambling enterprise participated in by several persons; the joint stake or fund contributed by such persons. In rifle shooting, firing for prizes on the arrangement that each competitor pays a certain sum for each shot, and all the proceeds of the day, after deduction of the necessary expenses, are divided among the winners. POOLE, a seaport of Dorsetshire, Eng- land; 5 miles W. of Bournemouth and 30 E. of Dorchester. It stands on the N. side of Poole Harbor (7 by 4^ miles), an irregular inlet, formed by the projec- tion of the "isle" of Purbeck, almost dry at low water, and having four tides a day. On Brownsea or Branksea Island, just within the narrow entrance to the harbor, is a castle, dating from the time of Henry VIII. Poole itself has an old town hall (1572), a guildhall (1761), a town house (1822), considerable ship- ping, some yacht building, and a large trade in potter's and pipe clay. The men of Poole were great fighters, as buccaneers, smugglers, and Cromwellian soldiery. POOLE, JOHN, an English play- wright; born in 1792; wrote the immor- tal "Paul Pry," first produced at the Haymarket in 1825, and several other farces and comedies, such as "Turning the Tables," "Deaf as a Post," "Twould Puzzle a Conjuror," "The Wife's Strata- gem," etc. Besides these theatrical pieces he wrote also the satirical "Little Pedlington" (1839), "The Comic Sketch Book" (1859), "Comic Miscellany" (1845), "Christmas Festivities" (1845). He died in London, Feb. 5, 1879. POONA, or PUNA, a town of British India, 119 miles S. E. of Bombay; the military capital of the Deccan. The city is surrounded by gardens, but its streets are mostly narrow or crooked, and the houses poor. The ruins of the peshwa's palace, burned in 1827, still remain. Under the peshwas the city was the capital of the Mahratta princes and power; it was occupied and annexed by the British in 1818. Here have been built the Deccan College and the College of Science, the latter for training civil engineers. The Europeans live chiefly
