Bairam, a Persian term designating the two principal holidays of Islam, which are celebrated with great festivities, especially the little Bairam (Turk. Tcutchuh bairam; Arab, aid el-saghir, the little feast, or aid el-fethr, the feast of fast-breaking). It succeeds Ramadan, beginning at sunrise of the first day of the month of Shevval, and lasts three days, the mosques being illuminated, the sultan holding public receptions, salutes being fired, and every one who can afford it putting on new dresses. The Turkish capital and its environs exhibit during this period great animation. Sixty days after the little Bairam is the festival of the great Bairam (Turk, buyuh bairam, generally kurban bairam; Arab, aid el-kebir, the great feast, or aid el-korban, the feast of sacrifice). It begins on the 16th of the month of Zilhije, and lasts four days, during which sheep and oxen are sacrificed, and the same festivities observed as during the little Bairam. Every family or two families in conjunction kill a lamb. At Mecca sheep, oxen, and camels are slaughtered, and the flesh is distributed among the poor pilgrims. The sultan on both occasions visits the mosque with great ceremony.

He also holds public receptions attended by the foreign ministers and Turkish officials, the latter being treated to a banquet, and 16 of them receiving presents of robes furred with sable. Formerly the ambassadors also received presents.

BA1RD, Sir David, a British general, born at Newbyth, Scotland, Dec, 6, 1757, died Aug. 18, 1829. He went to India as captain in the 73d Highlanders, and in 1780 was wounded and taken prisoner in the disastrous affair near Conjeveram in the Carnatic, where Hyder Ali destroyed an entire British detachment. lie was held captive at Seringapatam nearly four years, and when that fortress was taken by assault in 1799, Baird, then a major general, commanded and led the storming party. For his gallantry on this occasion he received the thanks of parliament. Dissatisfied with the preference shown to Wellesley, he obtained leave of absence in 1803, and returned to England, where he was received with great distinction. In 1805 he commanded an expedition against the Dutch settlements at the Cape of Good Hope; in 1807 he led a division in the attack on Copenhagen; and in 1808 he joined Sir John Moore in Spain, succeeding to the command when that officer fell at Corunna. He was severely wounded, however, and obliged to retire from active service.

He was knighted in 1804, and created a baronet after the victory of Corunna in 1809.