Volume 4, Slice 1 Part 7 (1/2)

The edges of these are now found encircling the mountains and forming a series of fairly continuous rims of hog-backs. The carboniferous and older stratified beds still cover the west half of the hills, while from the east half they have been removed, exposing the granite. Scientific exploration began in 1849, and systematic geological investigation about 1875. Rich gold placers had already been discovered, and in 1875 the Sioux Indians within whose territory the hills had until then been included, were removed, and the lands were open to white settlers.

Subsequently low-grade quartz mines were found and developed, and have furnished a notable part of the gold supply of the country (about $100,000,000 from 1875 to 1901). The output is to-day relatively small in comparison with that of many other fields, but there are one or two permanent gold mines of great value working low-grade ore. The silver product from 1879 to 1901 was about $4,154,000. Deposits of copper, tin, iron and tungsten have been discovered, and a variety of other mineral products (graphite, mica, spodumene, coal, petroleum, &c.). In sharp contrast to the surrounding plains the climate is subhumid, especially in the higher Harney region. There is an abundance of fertile soil and magnificent grazing land. A third of the total area is covered with forests of pine and other trees, which have for the most part been made a forest-reserve by the national government. Jagged crags, sudden abysses, magnificent canyons, forests with open parks, undulating hills, mountain prairies, freaks of weathering and erosion, and the enclosing lines of the successive hog-backs afford scenery of remarkable variety and wild beauty. There are several interesting limestone caverns, and Sylvan Lake, in the high mountain district, is an important resort.

See the publications of the United States Geological Survey (especially Professional Paper No. 26, _Economic Resources of the Northern Black Hills_, 1904), and of the South Dakota School of Mines (Bulletin No. 4, containing a history and bibliography of Black Hills investigations); also R.L. Dodge, _The Black Hills: A Minute Description_ ... (New York, 1876).

BLACKIE, JOHN STUART (1809-1895), Scottish scholar and man of letters, was born in Glasgow on the 28th of July 1809. He was educated at the New Academy and afterwards at the Marischal College, in Aberdeen, where his father was manager of the Commerical Bank. After attending cla.s.ses at Edinburgh University (1825-1826), Blackie spent three years at Aberdeen as a student of theology. In 1829 he went to Germany, and after studying at Gottingen and Berlin (where he came under the influence of Heeren, Ottfried Muller, Schleiermacher, Neander and Bockh) he accompanied Bunsen to Italy and Rome. The years spent abroad extinguished his former wish to enter the Church, and at his father's desire he gave himself up to the study of law. He had already, in 1824, been placed in a lawyer's office, but only remained there six months. By the time he was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates (1834) he had acquired a strong love of the cla.s.sics and a taste for letters in general. A translation of _Faust_, which he published in 1834, met with considerable success.

After a year or two of desultory literary work he was (May 1839) appointed to the newly-inst.i.tuted chair of Humanity (Latin) in the Marischal College.

Difficulties arose in the way of his installation, owing to the action of the Presbytery on his refusing to sign unreservedly the Confession of Faith; but these were eventually overcome, and he took up his duties as professor in November 1841. In the following year he married. From the first his professorial lectures were conspicuous for the unconventional enthusiasm with which he endeavoured to revivify the study of the cla.s.sics; and his growing reputation, added to the attention excited by a translation of Aeschylus which he published in 1850, led to his appointment in 1852 to the professors.h.i.+p of Greek at Edinburgh University, in succession to George Dunbar, a post which he continued to hold for thirty years. He was somewhat erratic in his methods, but his lectures were a triumph of influential personality. A journey to Greece in 1853 prompted his essay _On the Living Language of the Greeks_, a favourite theme of his, especially in his later years; he adopted for himself a modern Greek p.r.o.nunciation, and before his death he endowed a travelling scholars.h.i.+p to enable students to learn Greek at Athens.

Scottish nationality was another source of enthusiasm with him; and in this connexion he displayed real sympathy with Highland home life and the grievances of the crofters. The foundation of the Celtic chair at Edinburgh University was mainly due to his efforts. In spite of the many calls upon his time he produced a considerable amount of literary work, usually on cla.s.sical or Scottish subjects, including some poems and songs of no mean order. He died in Edinburgh on the 2nd of March 1895.

Blackie was a Radical and Scottish nationalist in politics, but of a fearlessly independent type; he was one of the ”characters” of the Edinburgh of the day, and was a well-known figure as he went about in his plaid, worn shepherd-wise, wearing a broad-brimmed hat, and carrying a big stick. His published works include (besides several volumes of verse) _Homer and the Iliad_ (1866), maintaining the unity of the poems; _Four Phases of Morals: Socrates, Aristotle, Christianity, Utilitarianism_ (1871); _Essay on Self-Culture_ (1874); _Horae h.e.l.lenicae_ (1874); _The Language and Literature of the Scottish Highlands_ (1876); _The Natural History of Atheism_ (1877); _The Wise Men of Greece_ (1877); _Lay Sermons_ (1881); _Altavona_ (1882); _The Wisdom of Goethe_ (1883); _The Scottish Highlanders and the Land Laws_ (1885); _Life of Burns_ (1888); _Scottish Song_ (1889); _Essays on Subjects of Moral and Social Interest_ (1890); _Christianity and the Ideal of Humanity_ (1893). Amongst his political writings may be mentioned a pamphlet _On Democracy_ (1867), _On Forms of Government_ (1867), and _Political Tracts_ (1868).

See Anna M. Stoddart, _John Stuart Blackie_ (1895); A. Stodart-Walker, _Selected Poems of J.S. Blackie_, with an appreciation (1896); Howard Angus Kennedy, _Professor Blackie_ (1895).

BLACK ISLE, THE, a district in the east of the county of Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, bounded N. by Cromarty Firth, E. by Moray Firth, S.

by Inner Moray Firth (or Firth of Inverness) and Beauly Firth, and W. by the river Conon and the parish of Urray. It is a diamond-shaped peninsula jutting out from the mainland in a north-easterly direction, the longer axis, from Muir of Ord station to the South Sutor at the entrance to Cromarty Firth, measuring 20 m., and the shorter, from Ferryton Point to Craigton-Point, due north and south, 12 m., and it has a coastline of 52 m. Originally called Ardmeanach (Gaelic _ard_, height; _manaich_, monk, ”the monk's height,” from an old religious house on the finely-wooded ridge of Mulbuie), it derived its customary name from the fact that, since snow does not lie in winter, the promontory looks black while the surrounding country is white. Within its limits are comprised the parishes of Urquhart and Logie Wester, Killearnan, Knockbain (Gaelic _cnoc_, hill; _ban_, white), Avoch (p.r.o.n. Auch), Rosemarkie, Resolis (Gaelic _rudha_ or _ros soluis_, ”cape of the light”) or Kirkmichael and Cromarty. The Black Isle branch of the Highland railway runs from Muir of Ord to Fortrose; steamers connect Cromarty with Invergordon and Inverness, and Fortrose with Inverness; and there are ferries, on the southern coast, at North Kessock (for Inverness) and Chanonry (for Fort George), and, on the northern coast, at Alcaig (for Dingwall), Newhallpoint (for Invergordon), and Cromarty (for Nigg). The princ.i.p.al towns are Cromarty and Fortrose. Rosehaugh, near Avoch, belonged to Sir George Mackenzie, founder of the Advocates' library in Edinburgh, who earned the sobriquet of ”b.l.o.o.d.y” from his persecution of the Covenanters. Redcastle, on the sh.o.r.e, near Killearnan church, dates from 1179 and is said to have been the earliest inhabited house in the north of Scotland. On the forfeiture of the earldom of Ross it became a royal castle (being visited by Queen Mary), and afterwards pa.s.sed for a period into the hands of the Mackenzies of Gairloch. The chief industries are agriculture--high farming flourishes owing to the great fertility of the peninsula--sandstone-quarrying and fisheries (mainly from Avoch). The whole district, though lacking water, is picturesque and was once forested. The Mulbuie ridge, the highest point of which is 838 ft. above the sea, occupies the centre and is the only elevated ground.

Antiquarian remains are somewhat numerous, such as forts and cairns in Cromarty parish, and stone circles in Urquhart and Logie Wester and Knockbain parishes, the latter also containing a hut circle and rock fortress.

BLACKLOCK, THOMAS (1721-1791), Scottish poet, the son of a bricklayer, was born at Annan, in Dumfriess.h.i.+re, in 1721. When not quite six months old he lost his sight by smallpox, and his career is largely interesting as that of one who achieved what he did in spite of blindness. Shortly after his father's death in 1740, some of Blacklock's poems began to be handed about among his acquaintances and friends, who arranged for his education at the grammar-school, and subsequently at the university of Edinburgh, where he was a student of divinity. His first volume of Poems was published in 1746. In 1754 he became deputy librarian for the Faculty of Advocates, by the kindness of Hume. He was eventually estranged from Hume, and defended James Beattie's attack on that philosopher. Blacklock was among the first friends of Burns in Edinburgh, being one of the earliest to recognize his genius. He was in 1762 ordained minister of the church of Kirkcudbright, a position which he soon resigned; in 1767 the degree of doctor in divinity was conferred on him by Marischal College, Aberdeen. He died on the 7th of July 1791.

An edition of his poems in 1793 contains a life by Henry Mackenzie.

BLACKMAIL, a term, in English law, used in three special meanings, at different times. The usual derivation of the second half of the word is from Norman Fr. _maille (medalia_; cf. ”medal”), small copper coin; the _New English Dictionary_ derives from ”mail” (q.v.), meaning rent or tribute. (1) The primary meaning of ”blackmail” was rent paid in labour, grain or baser metal (i.e. money other than sterling money), called _reditus nigri_, in contradistinction to rent paid in silver or white money (_mailles blanches_). (2) In the northern counties of England (Northumberland, Westmorland and the bishopric of Durham) it signified a tribute in money, corn, cattle or other consideration exacted from farmers and small owners by freebooters in return for immunity from robbers or moss-troopers. By a statute of 1601 it was made a felony without benefit of clergy to receive or pay such tribute, but the practice lingered until the union of England and Scotland in 1707. (3) The word now signifies extortion of money or property by threats of libel, presecution, exposure, &c. See such headings as COERCION, CONSPIRACY, EXTORTION, and authorities quoted under CRIMINAL LAW.

BLACKMORE, SIR RICHARD (c. 1650-1729), English physician and writer, was born at Corsham, in Wilts.h.i.+re, about 1650. He was educated at Westminster school and St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He was for some time a schoolmaster, but finally, after graduating in medicine at Padua, he settled in practice as a physician in London. He supported the principles of the Revolution, and was accordingly knighted in 1697. He held the office of physician in ordinary both to William III. and Anne, and died on the 9th of October 1729. Blackmore had a pa.s.sion for writing epics. _Prince Arthur, an Heroick Poem in X Books_ appeared in 1695, and was followed by six other long poems before 1723. Of these _Creation_ ... (1712), a philosophic poem intended to refute the atheism of Vanini, Hobbes and Spinoza, and to unfold the intellectual philosophy of Locke, was the most favourably received. Dr Johnson antic.i.p.ated that this poem would transmit the author to posterity ”among the first favourites of the English muse,” while John Dennis went so far as to describe it as ”a philosophical poem, which has equalled that of Lucretius in the beauty of its versification, and infinitely surpa.s.sed it in the solidity and strength of its reasoning.” These opinions have not been justified, for the poem, like everything else that Blackmore wrote, is dull and tedious. His _Creation_ appears in Johnson's and Anderson's collections of the British poets. He left also works on medicine and on theological subjects.

BLACKMORE, RICHARD DODDRIDGE (1825-1900), English novelist, was born on the 7th of June 1825 at Longworth, Berks.h.i.+re, of which village his father was curate in charge. He was educated at Blundell's school, Tiverton, and Exeter College, Oxford, where he obtained a scholars.h.i.+p.

In 1847 he took a second cla.s.s in cla.s.sics. Two years later he entered as a student at the Middle Temple, and was called to the bar in 1852.

His first publication was a volume of _Poems by Melanter_ (1854), which showed no particular promise, nor did the succeeding volume, _Epullia_ (1855), suggest that Blackmore had the makings of a poet. He was nevertheless enthusiastic in his pursuit of literature; and when, a few years later, the complete breakdown of his health rendered it clear that he must remove from London, he determined to combine a literary life in the country with a business career as a market-gardener. He acquired land at Teddington, and set earnestly to work, the literary fruits of his new surroundings being a translation of the _Georgics_, published in 1862. In 1864 he published his first novel, _Clara Vaughan_, the merits of which were promptly recognized. _Cradock Nowell_ (1866) followed, but it was in 1869 that he suddenly sprang into fame with _Lorna Doone_.

This fine story was a pioneer in the romantic revival; and appearing at a jaded hour, it was presently recognized as a work of singular charm, vigour and imagination. Its success could scarcely be repeated, and though Blackmore wrote many other capital stories, of which the best known are _The Maid of Sker_ (1872), _Christowell_ (1880), _Perlycross_ (1894), _Tales from the Telling House_ (1896) and _Dariel_ (1897), he will always be remembered almost exclusively as the author of _Lorna Doone_. He continued his quiet country life to the last, and died at Teddington on the 20th of January 1900, in his seventy-fifth year.

_Lorna Doone_ has the true out-of-door atmosphere, is shot through and through with adventurous spirit, and in its dramatic moments shows both vigour and intensity. The heroine, though she is invested with qualities of faery which are scarcely human, is an idyllic and haunting figure; and John Ridd, the bluff hero, is, both in purpose and achievement, a veritable giant of romance. The story is a cla.s.sic of the West country, and the many pilgrimages that are made annually to the Doone Valley (the actual characteristics of which differ materially from the descriptions given in the novel) are entirely inspired by the buoyant imagination of Richard Blackmore. A memorial window and tablet to his memory were erected in Exeter cathedral in 1904.

BLACK MOUNTAIN, a mountain range and district on the Hazara border of the North-West Frontier Province of India. It is inhabited by Yusafzai Pathans. The Black Mountain itself has a total length of 25 to 30 m., and an average height of 8000 ft. above the sea. It rises from the Indus basin near the village of Kiara, up to its watershed by Bruddur; thence it runs north-west by north to the point on the crest known as Chittabut. From Chittabut the range runs due north, finally descending by two large spurs to the Indus again. The tribes which inhabit the western face of the Black Mountain are the Ha.s.sanzais (2300 fighting men), the Akazais (1165 fighting men) and the Chagarzais (4890 fighting men), all sub-sections of the Yusafzai Pathans. It was in this district that the Hindostani Fanatics had their stronghold, and they were responsible for much of the unrest on this part of the border.