BAMBOE, or BAMBOU, a plant in the Indies which multiplies very much by its root, from which springs a branchy tuft, after the manner of the European reeds. It is of the largest kind of cane, and decreases gradually to the top, where it bears a blossom like our reeds. The bamboe is a species of arundo. See Auvxio The bamboo-cane grows naturally al most every where within the tropical re gions; it is common in many parts of Asia, as China, Cochin-China, Tonquin, Cambodia, Japan, Ceylon, the Peninsula of India, and the islands. This useful plant has been long introduced into the West Indies. There are some fine specimens of bamboo in the Botanical Garden at Li verpool. Scarcely any plant serves for more useful purposes than the bamboo, where it grows naturally. In the East Indies, great use is made of it in building, and the houses of the meaner people are almost entirely composed of it. Bridges are also made of it, masts for their sailing vessels, boxes, cups, baskets, mats, and a great variety of other utensils and furni ture. Paper is also made from it by
bruising and steeping it in water, and thus forming it into a pulp. It is the com mon fence for gardens and fields, and is frequently used as pipes for conveying water. The leaves are generally put round the chests of tea which are sent to Europe from China, as package fastened together so as to form a kind of mat. The tops of the tender shoots are fre quently pickled in the West Indies. In the cavities of the bamboo is found, at certain seasons, a concrete white sub stance, which the Arabian physicians hold in high estimation.
BAN, in law, a public notice, applied particularly to the publication of intend. ed marriages, which must be done on three several Sundays previously to mar riage, that if any shew just cause against such marriage, they may have an oppor tunity to set forth their objections.