BAHIA' , bi-e4 or SAO SALVADOR DA BAHIA, so named because it is situated on a large harbor or bay, ranks as the third in population and importance among the cities of BraziL (See Rio DE jANEIRO). It lies about 740 miles north of Rio, in lat. 13° l' S., and long 38° 32' W. Arnerigo Vespucci visited this port on his voyage of exploration in 1503. Before 1763 Bahia was the capital of Brazil, and in the 16th century it was the scene of frequent conflicts between the Portuguese and the forces of other European nations. (See Belau.). At present it is the capital of the state of Bahia (area 164,643 square miles and pop. about 3,000,000), which has great natural resources in its mines and forests, as well as in fertile lands devoted largely to the cultivation of sugar-cane. The location of the city is picturesque, its upper portion being built on high ground several hundred feet above the sea level. On the upper terraces stand churches, the cathedral, convents, a great theatre, the mint and the governor's palace. Below, border ing the port, which has a fine lighthouse and is defended by several forts, are docks and warehouses where the products of the country,— coffee, sugar, cotton, dye-woods, tobacco (ex cellent cigars), rum, hides, horns and tallow,— are collected, to be shipped to all parts of the world. Bahia has a public library, which was founded in 1811; its manufactures have received attention in recent years, and formerly it was the headquarters of the diamond trade, before die mines of South Africa and southern Brazil were developed. The author of (Brazil and the Brazilians) (New York 1914), G. J. Bruce, says in regard to the bay—which, from the bar at the entrance to its head, is 43 miles long and about 40 broad at its widest part —that it is one of the safest harbors in the world, though the entrance loolcs dangerous and ex tremely forbidding. Berthing accommodation at the wharves is only provided for the smaller vessels. Steamers of large tonnage anchor out
in the bay. A French company has works for the improvement of the port well advanced. Bahia is the starting point for several coasting lines, as well as for trading services to the Sio Francisco River regions. °The great feature of the city,* he observes, cis the mimber of churches, 365, one for every day in the year.* The city's population is somewhat more than 280,000, with an annual increase of nearly 6,000.
BAHf A BLANCA, Argentina, an import ant seaport, as well as a commercial and administrative centre, in the province of Buenos Aires. The city is well built and is provided with a good water supply, and with electric light and tramway service. It is the headquarters of judicature for the southern part of the republic. (See ARGENTINA). The real harbor of Bahia Blanca is Puerto Belgrano, which has several miles of anchorage. Ad joining this are the national dockyards, known as Puerto Militar. Close by is the village of Punta Alta and the naval hospital. Adjacent towns are Puerto Ingeniero White (the ter minus of the Great Southern Railway) and Puerto Galvan, terminus of the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway. Combined populations of the whole group of towns, 76,000.
BAHfA HONDA, bi-e'a on'da, Cuba, sea port on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and lying on a small bay, bearing the same name, which affords one of the best harbors on the island. The town and bay are about 50 miles west of Havana, being commanded by a small fort. There are mines of coal and copper in the vicinity. A short distance to the south are the sulphur springs of Aguacate. Sugar and tobacco are cultivated to a considerable extent in the vicinity. Pop. Bahia Honda and Agua cate, about 1,300.