BARB, a town in Alsace, 18 miles S.W. of Strasburg, situated on the eastern slope of the Vosges, at the mouth of the Ulrichthal. Wool and cotton spinning, and the manufacture of pottery, crystal, and soap, are its principal industries; and an active trade is carried on in wine, brandy, vinegar, cattle, and wood. The town is mentioned as early as the 8th century. It was burned by the troops of the Cardinal of Lorraine in 1592; in 1678 it suffered from a severe conflagration; and in 179-4 it was greatly damaged by the explosion of the arsenal. There is a tepid mineral spring in the neighbourhood, and, on the ( )dilienberg, which rises above the town, are the ruins of the convent of St Odilia, which was founded in the 7th century Population, 5G51.
BARRA, or Barray (from the Scandinavian Barney, isle of the ocean), one of the Hebrides or "Western Isles of Scotland, forming part of Inverness-shire. It lies about 5 miles S.W. of South Uist, and is 8 miles in length by from 2 to 4 miles in breadth. The parish comprehends a number of smaller islands and islets, Berneray, Flodday, Fluda, Hellisay,Mingalay, Watersay, &c., and is estimated to contain 4000 acres of arable land, and 18,000 of meadow and hill pasture. The cod, ling, and herring fisheries are considerable ; and the coasts abound with shell-fish, especially cockles, which have sometimes afforded food to the inhabitants in times of famine. On Barra Head, the highest point of Berneray, is a lighthouse with an intermit ting light 680 feet above high water, in lat. 56 48 N., long. 7 3 38 W. There are several remains of interest in the island of Barra, as the churches at Kilbar, the castle of the M Neilsat Kishmul, "Danish" forts and " Druidical " circles. Population of island (chiefly Gaelic-speaking Ro man Catholics) in 1871, 1563; of the parish, 1753.
BARRACKPUR, a magisterial subdivision and town of British India, in the district of 24 Parganas, under the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. Barrackpur SUBDIVISION was formed in 1858. It consists of the single police circle of Nawabganj, and contains an area of 42 square miles, with 51 villages, 16,057 houses, and a total population of 68,629, of whom 47,709, or 69 5 per cent., are Hindus; 19,600, or 28 6 per cent., are Mahometans; 1281, or 1 9 per cent,, are Christians ; and 39 are of other religions. Proportion of males to total population, 52 2 per cent. ; persons per square mile, 1626; villages per square mile, T21; persons per village, 1346; houses per square mile. 380; persons per house, 4 3. In 1870-71 the subdivision contained one magistrate s court, with a regular police of 195, and a village watch of 38 men. The separate cost of administration amounted to 2101.
Barrackpur Town and Cantonment, situated on the Hiigli, 15 miles above Calcutta, in 22 45 40" N. lat, and 88 23 52" E. long. ; area, 889 acres, or 1-39 square miles. Population, according to the experimental census of 1869 males, 5730; females, 2914; total, 8644. Population, as ascertained by the general census of 1872 : Hindus males, 3207; females, 1745; total, 4952: Mahometans males, 1987 ; females, 1561 ; total, 3548 : Christians- males, 766; females, 297; total, 1063: others males, 21 ; females, 7; total, 28. Total of all denominations- males, 5981 ; females, 3610 ; total in 1872, 9591. Muni cipal income in 1872, 235, 9s. 6d. ; expenditure, the same ; taxation, 5
Barrackpur played an important part in the two Sepoy mutinies of 1824 and 1857, but the details of these belong to the general history of British rule in India.
BARRACKS are groups of buildings constructed for the accommodation of soldiers. The word, which was formerly spelt "baracks " or "baraques," is derived from the Spanish <; barracas," meaning the little huts or cabins used by the fishermen on the sea-shore, or for soldiers in the field. The French call them " casernes," meaning lodgings for soldiers. Barracks of a temporary character, commonly called " huts," have ordinarily been constructed by troops on a campaign as winter quarters, or when for any length of time in " standing camp," they being accommodated when in the field under other circumstances in tents, or else, if not provided with tents, bivouacing without cover.
In time of peace barracks were formerly only provided for troops in fortified places termed " garrisons," soldiers elsewhere being provided with quarters by being billeted on public-houses. The apprehension of disturbances, and risk of the troops being too much mixed up with the populations of the localities in which they might be stationed, mainly led to the construction of barracks in or near towns in England about the year 1792. In the first instance the Deputy-adjutant-general was charged with the building and fitting up of barracks. In 1793 the same officer was appointed " Superintendent-general of barracks," and subsequently " Barrack-master-general." In 1806 the barrack establishment was placed under the direction of a board of four commissioners, of whom one was generally a military man. About the year 1825 the duke of Wellington arranged for the construction and maintenance of barracks to be given over to the corps of Royal Engineers. The custody and equipment of barracks, with the supply of fuel and light to the troops quartered in them, were then made and remained, until recently, the duty of the " barrack department," which consisted of barrack-masters and barrack-sergeants.
The duties connected with barracks in the British service are now arranged as follows:—
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Construction, maintenance, and ) supply of fixtures ; also custody > Royal Engineer Department, if dismantled ) Equipment with supplies of all kinds, giving and taking over ; also custody when furnished but unoccupied Distribution of troops to barracks Commissariat Department. Q. M. General s Department, under the orders at head quarters of the Field- JLarshal Commanding-in- Chief, and in districts or at foreign stations of the Gen
eral Officer Commanding.