  In this article, the hydrogen column densities derived from X-ray
observations of type II (hidden) quasars and broad absorption line quasars
(BALQSOs) are compared. These column densities represent the amount of
absorbing material between the X-ray source and the observer. A sample of type
II QSOs with strong narrow emission lines, weak UV continuum and no broad
emission lines that also have deep X-ray observations was collected from the
literature for analysis. The standard model of equatorial BAL (broad absorption
line) winds predicts that the column densities of this type II QSO sample
should significantly exceed BALQSO column densities. Based on the existing
published deep hard X-ray observations this does not seem to be true, the
BALQSO absorption columns are anomalously large. Actually, the limited existing
data indicate that BALQSOs have column densities which are larger than the type
II QSO column densities at a statistically significant level. The implication
to BAL outflows and the fundamental physical geometry of QSOs is discussed.
