balloon Large airtight bag filled with hot air or a lighter-than-air gas such as helium or hydrogen that can rise and float in the atmosphere. Experi¬ mental attempts may have begun by 1709, but not until 1783 did J.-M. and J.-E. Montgolfier develop a fabric-bag balloon that would rise when filled with hot air. Balloons provided military aerial observation sites in the 19th century and were used in the 20th century by scientists such as Auguste Piccard to gather high-altitude data. The first round-the-world balloon flight was achieved in 1999 by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones. See also airship.
ballooning Flying in a balloon in competition or for recreation. Sport ballooning began in the early 20th century and became popular in the 1960s. The balloons used are of lightweight synthetic materials (e.g., polyester coated in aluminized mylar) and are filled with hot air or lighter- than-air gas. Balloon races often involve tasks such as changing eleva¬ tions or landing on or near a target. Competitions are regulated by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. The first transatlantic, transcon¬ tinental, and transpacific balloon flights were achieved in 1978, 1980, and 1981, respectively. In 1997-98 international teams began competing to become the first to balloon nonstop around the world. This feat was finally accomplished in 1999 by the Swiss psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard (grand¬ son of famed physicist and balloonist Auguste Piccard) and his British copilot Brian Jones, who spent 19 days in the air.
Ballot Act (1872) British law that introduced the secret ballot for all parliamentary and municipal elections. The secret ballot was also called the Australian ballot, because it was first used in Australian elections (1856). The British law, which was designed to protect voters from brib¬ ery and coercion, was one of the important achievements of William E. Gladstone’s first administration.
ballot initiative See referendum and initiative
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158 I ballroom dance ► Baltic States
ballroom dance European and American social dancing performed by couples. It includes standard dances such as the fox-trot, waltz, polka, tango, Charleston, jitterbug, and merengue. Ballroom dance was popular¬ ized by Vernon and Irene Castle and Fred Astaire and, later, by Arthur Mur¬ ray (1895-1991), who established ballroom dance studios throughout the U.S. Ballroom dance contests, especially popular in Europe, feature both amateur and professional dancers.
Ballycastle Town (pop., 1991: 4,005), district seat of Moyle, Northern Ireland. It is situated along Ballycastle Bay, opposite an island where Scotland’s King Robert I is said to have hidden from enemies in a cave. It is a market centre, fishing harbour, and resort.
Ballymena V.ba-le-'me-noV District (pop., 2001: 58,610), Northern Ire¬ land. Established in 1973, it is an agricultural area. The Antrim Moun¬ tains, which reach a height of 1,430 ft (435 m), traverse the eastern part of the district, sloping toward the valley of the River Main. Ballymena town, the district seat, is a marketing centre for the surrounding area; it has long been known for its linen and woolen production.
Ballymoney V.ba-le-'mo-neX District (pop., 2001: 26,894), Northern Ireland. Established in 1973, it is an agricultural area intersected by the Antrim Mountains. The town of Ballymoney is the district seat.
balm Any of several fragrant herbs of the mint family, particularly Mel¬ issa officinalis (balm gentle, or lemon balm), cultivated in temperate cli¬ mates for its fragrant leaves, which are used as a scent in perfumes and as a flavouring. The name is also applied to Melittis melissophyllum (bas¬ tard balm), Monarda didyma (bergamot, or bee balm), Collinsonia canaden¬ sis (horse balm), Glecoma hederacea and Satureja (Calamintha) nepeta (field balm), and Molucella laevis (Molucca balm, or bells of Ireland), as well as to aromatic substances from species of Commiphora (trees and shrubs of the incense-tree family).
Balmain \bal-'ma n \, Pierre (-Alexandre-Claudius) (b. May 18,
1914, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Fr.—d. June 29, 1982, Paris) French fashion designer. He gave up architectural studies to become a designer in 1934. He worked briefly with Christian Dior, who became his rival after World War II. Balmain’s designs, particularly for evening wear, were characterized by superb quality and a combination of femininity and imposing elegance; his clients included film stars and royalty. He later opened branches in New York City and Caracas and expanded into per¬ fume and accessories.
Balochi \b3-'lo-che\ or Baluchi \b3-'lu-che\ Any member of a group of tribes speaking the Balochi language and inhabiting the province of Balochistan in Pakistan and neighbouring areas of Iran, Afghanistan, Bahr¬ ain, and the Punjab (India). Some 70% of the total Balochi population live in Pakistan, where they are divided into two groups, the Sulaimani and the Makrani. Mentioned in 10th-century Arabic chronicles, they prob¬ ably came originally from the Iranian plateau. Traditional Balochis are nomads, but settled agricultural existence is becoming more common. They raise camels and other livestock and engage in carpet making and embroidery.
Balochistan Xbo-.lo-chi-'stanN or Baluchistan Xbo-.lii-chi-'stanN Prov¬ ince (pop., 1998: 6,511,000), southwestern Pakistan. Its capital is Quetta (pop., 1998: 560,307). Its landscape includes mountains, notably the Sulaiman and Kithar ranges; barren, flat plains; arid desert; and marshy swamps. In ancient times, it was part of Gedrosia. Alexander the Great traversed it in 325 bc. It was included in the Bactrian kingdom, then was ruled by Arabs from the 7th to the 10th century ad. It was ruled by Per¬ sia for centuries, with the exception of a period when it belonged to the Mughal Empire (1594-1638). It became a British dependency in 1876 and a British province of India in 1887. It was made part of Pakistan in 1947^-8 and was designated a separate province in 1970. Wheat, sor¬ ghum, and rice are staple crops; manufactures include cotton and woolen goods.
Balqash, Lake See Lake Balkhash
balsa Tree ( Ochroma pyramidale, or O. lagopus) of the bombax family (Bombacaceae), native to tropical South America and noted for its extremely light wood, which resembles clear white pine or basswood. Because of its buoyancy (about twice that of cork), balsa has long been used for making floats for lifelines and life preservers. Its resilience makes it an excellent shock-absorbing packing material. Its insulating properties make it a good lining material for incubators, refrigerators, and cold-
storage rooms. Because it combines lightness and high insulating power, it is a valuable construction material for transportation containers for dry ice (solidified carbon dioxide). It is also used in the construction of air¬ plane passenger compartments and in model airplanes and boats.
balsam Aromatic resinous substance that flows from a plant, either spontaneously or from an incision, and is used chiefly in medicinal prepa¬ rations. Some of the more aromatic varieties are used in incense. Balsam of Peru, a fragrant, thick, deep brown or black fluid used in perfumes, is a true balsam, from a lofty leguminous tree, Myroxylon pereirae, native to and introduced into Sri Lanka. Balsam of Tolu (Colombia) is used in perfumes and in cough syrups and lozenges; it hardens with age. Canada balsam and Mecca balsam are not true balsams.
balsam poplar North American poplar ( Populus balsamifera), native from Labrador to Alaska and across the extreme northern U.S. Often cul¬ tivated as a shade tree, it has buds thickly coated with an aromatic resin that is used to make cough syrups. It grows best in northwestern Canada.
Balthus \bal-'tiEs\ orig. Balthazar Klossowski (b. Feb. 29, 1908, Paris, Fr.—d. Feb. 18, 2001, La Rossiniere, Switz.) French painter. Born in Paris to Polish parents, he was considered a child prodigy and was encouraged by family friends including Pierre Bonnard, Andre Derain, and Rainer Maria Rilke. Without formal training, he supported himself through commissions for stage sets and portraits. He had his first one-man show in 1934. In the midst of 20th-century avant-gardism, he explored the tra¬ ditional categories of European painting: the landscape, the still life, the subject painting, and the portrait. He presented ordinary moments of con¬ temporary life on a grand scale and utilized traditional, Old Master paint¬ ing techniques. Balthus is best known for his controversial depictions of adolescent girls. His disturbing and erotic images and his carefully cul¬ tivated persona made him an international cult figure. From 1961 to 1977 he served as director of the French Academy in Rome.