lion; but Louis Philippe restored him to the peerage iu 1831, and made him the head of a short-lived ministry.
BAS'SARIS, or BASARISK. The Caeo-niistli' Ul-v.).
BASS (has) DRUM. A musical instrument
of pereu.-ision. It lias a eylindrical body of wood,
over l>oth ends of which a membrane is stretched
tightly by means of hoops. The bass drum is
played by beating either one or both heads with
sticks having soft, padded knobs at their ends.
See Uktm.
BASSEIN, bas-san' (Hind. Vassim). A
town in the Presidency of Bombay, India, situat-
ed on an island of the same name, 28 miles north
of the city of Bombay; latitude of island, 19° 20'
to 10° 2S N. In 1720 it had over 00,000 inhab-
itants ; but through war, plague, and other causes
has decayed until its population had dwindled to
11.000 in 1901. In 1534 it was ceded to the Por-
tuguese; in 176,5, after a possession of 231 years,
it was wrested from them by the itahrattas; in
1780 it surrendered to the IJritish after a siege
of 12 days. The island contains about 35 scpiare
miles; it is separated from the continent by a
narrow channel, which, as a shelter for shipping,
constituted its value in the eyes of the Portu-
guese. Bassein is of historical interest, having
been promised, though never delivered, as j)art
of the dowry of Charles II. 's Portuguese consort.
BASSEIN, or BASSIM. The capital of the
district of Bassein in Lower Burma, on the left
bank of a mouth of the Irrawaddj', 90 miles from
the sea (Map: Burma, B 3). It has a con-
siderable trade in rice. The United States is
represented by a consular agent. The place is of
military importance, as it commands the navi-.
gation of the stream. It was captured bv the
British in 1852. Population of town, 30,000;
area of district, 4127 square miles; population,
in 1891, 311.260; iu 1901, 383,100.
BASSELIN, bas'laN', or BACHELIN, Oli-
vier (e.l3r)0-c.l419) . A French poet, born in
the Valde-Vire, Normandy. Songs on convivial
themes, ascribed to him, but now- attributed to
Jean le Hou.^^ (Livre des chansons nonvcaux et
X aux-de-V ire , 1610 and 18.58), are usually re-
garded as the origin of modern vaudeville. The
song "To Jly Nose," celebrating its ruddy efflo-
rescence, is the best known. Consult: Gastcs
Etude sur Oliincr BassFlin et les compnrjnons du
Vail dc Tire (Caen, 1866); and Gastf", Olivier
Basselin et le Vau de Vire (Paris, 1887)'.
BASSERMANN, ba'ser-man, Heineich
(1849 — ). A German theologian. He was born
at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and was educated at
Jena, Zurich, and Heidelberg. In 1880 he was
appointed professor of theology at the I'niversity
of Heidellicrg. His numerous writings include:
Hnndbiwh der (icistlichen Brredsamkeit (1885) ;
Akademische Predifiten (1886) ; Entwurf eines
Systems evanpelist^hrr Liturfiik (1888) ; Sine Ira
et filudio. Der Entrurf der neuen prenssischen
Amende hrurteilt (1894).
BASSES-ALPES, bas'iilp'. A southeastern de-
partment of France, bordering on Italy (Map:
France, N 7). It has an area of 2685 square
miles; is mountainous, watered by the Durance,
has good pasturage, and is famed for its fruit.
Population, in 1896, 110,028; in 1901, 112,763.
Capital, Digne.
BASSES-PYRENEES, Uis'pe'ra'nfi'. A south-western department of France, bordering on Spain and the Bay of Biscay (Map: France, F 8). It has an area of 2943 square miles, nearly half of which is marshland. The chief rivers are the Nive and the Odour. It has active industries and
a considerable trade through the city and port of Bayonne. Population, in 1896, 421,955; in 1901,
423,164. Capital, Pan.
BAS'SET, or BAS'SET HOUND. See B.d-
GER Dog and Hoinu.
BASSE-TERRE, Ixls'tar' (Fr., lowland).
The capital of the British West Indian island of
Saint Christopher, or Saint Kitts, situated on the
southwestern coast. It is well built and is of
some commercial importance, having a trade in
sugar, salt. etc. Population, about 10,000.
BASSE-TERRE. The capital of the French
West Indian island of Guadaloupe, situated on
the southwestern coast of the island, at the
mouth of the Riviere-au.x-Herljcs (Map: West
Indies, R 6). Its poor harbor has little com-
mercial value. Basse-Terre is the scat of a
bishop, and contains a number of fine public
buildings. Population, about 8000.
BAS'SET HORN, or CORNO DI BASSETTO, kor'nu de bas-set'to (It. hass<'flo, some-
what low, dim. of basso, low -f- horn.) . A
wooden wind-instrument similar to a clarinet in
tone and fingering. It is now almost obsolete.
Vi compass is two and a half octaves, the notes
Avritten for it being from F to C^ It sounds a
fifth lower than the notes are written.
BAS'SETT, James (1834—). An American
missionary, born near Hamilton. Ont. He
graduated in 1859 at Lane Theological Seminary,
served as chaplain from 1802 to 1803 in the Fed-
eral Army, and from 1863 to 1871 held various
pastorates. In 1871 he became a missionary for
the Presbyterian Board and traveled widely
throughout Europe, spending many years in
Turkey and Persia, in which latter country he
was a pioneer missionary worker. He is believed
to have been the first American to penetrate as
far east as the tomb of Harun-al-Rashid at
Meshed, Eastern Khorasan. He founded the mis-
sion in Eastern and Central Persia, and did much
to effect the appointment of a United States
legation to Persia. His publications include:
Hi/mns in Persian (1873) ; Anwiiri the Turcomans
(1880) ; a translation into Gaghatti Tartar of the
Gospel According to Mattheiv; A (Urammatical
Note on the Simnnni l)ialects of the Persian
(1884); and Persia, the Land of the Imams
(1886).
BASSETT, John Spencer (1807—). An
American historian; born at Tarboro, N. C. He
graduated at Trinity College, N. C, in 1888, and
afterwards was appointed professor of history
there. His publications deal with researches in
the history of North Carolina, and include:
The Constitutional Bcqinninqs of Xorth Caro-
lina, J6fi3-1729 (Baltimore, "1894; Johns Bop-
kins University Studies in Hisitory and Political
Science, Vol. NTT., No. 3) ; Slavery and Servi-
tude in the Colony of North Carolina (ib., 1896;
do. Vol. XIV., Nos. 4, 5) ; and Slavery in the
State of North Carolina (ib., 1899; do. Vol.
XVIL, Nos. 7, 8).
