Bolas

Bolas, a missile weapon in common use among the Indians on the great South American plains, and especially among the gauchos of the Argentine Republic, chiefly used for capturing animals. It consists of two balls covered with leather, and united by a thin plaited thong varying in length from 6 to 8 feet. The gau-cho holds one of the balls in his right hand, whirls the other round his head, and when sufficient momentum has been obtained sends them whirling like chain shot through the air. Striking the legs of an animal, the thong is tightly wound about them, rendering escape impossible. This weapon has often been used with great effect in war. The balls may be of stone, iron, or wood; those of iron, usually small, may be projected an amazing distance.

Bolan Pass

Bolan Pass, a defile in the mountains of N. W. Beloochistan, between Dadur and Shawl, on the route between the lower Indus and the table land of Afghanistan. It consists of a succession of ravines rising 90 ft. to the mile for 55 m., when the summit is reached at a height of 5,793 ft. above the level of the sea.

Bolan Pass.

A small stream called the Bolan river flows down the pass, and after rains is a dangerous torrent. The British expedition to Afghanistan in 1839 spent six days, from March 16 to 21, in passing through this defile. •

Bolbec

Bolbec, a town of France, in the department of Seine-Infierieure, on the Bolbec river, 16 m. E. N. E. of Havre; pop. in 1866, 9,063. The ample water power furnished by the river Bolbec makes it a thriving manufacturing town. Its principal productions are cotton fabrics, but it has also woollen and linen factories, dye works, and tanneries.

Bolgrad

Bolgrad, a town of Roumania, in the province of Moldavia, at the head of Lake Yalpukh, connected with the mouths of the Danube, 105 m. S. S. E. of Jassy, and 28 m. N. N. W. of Ismail; pop. in 1866, 9,114. The inhabitants are chiefly Bulgarians. The houses are nearly all of stone. The town was formerly included in the Eussian province of Bessarabia, but was ceded to Moldavia in 1857, in conformity with the Paris treaty of the preceding year.

Bolivar

Bolivar, a W. county of Mississippi, separated from Arkansas by the Mississippi river; area, about 800 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 9,732, of whom 7,816 were colored. It consists mainly of swamp land, part of which is subject to frequent inundations. The climate of the low lands is unhealthy, and extensive fertile tracts are consequently left uncultivated. The chief productions in 1870 were 182,728 bushels of Indian corn and 15,571 bales of cotton. There were 720 horses, 1,478 mules and asses, 1,414 milch cows, 3,099 other cattle, and 4,871 swine. Capital, Beulah.

Bolkhov

Bolkhov, a town of Russia, on the Nugra, in the government and 35 m. N. of the city of Orel; pop. in 1867, 18,491. There are upward of 20 churches, a monastery, and a nunnery. The houses are mostly built of wood. It has factories of gloves, hats, hosiery, leather, tallow, oil, ropes, etc.; and its trade is considerable.