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CANE

Volume 2 · 184 words · 1771 Edition

botany. See Arundo.

Cane denotes also a walking-stick. It is customary to adorn it with a head of gold, silver, agate, &c. Some are without knots, and very smooth and even; others are full of knots, about two inches distant from each other. These last have very little elasticity, and will not bend so well as the others.

Canes of Bengal, are the most beautiful which the Europeans bring into Europe. Some of them are so fine, that people work them into vessels or bowls, which being varnished over in the inside with black or yellow lacca, will hold liquors as well as glass or china-ware does, and the Indians use them for that purpose.

Cane is also the name of a long measure, which differs according to the several countries where it is used.

At Naples, the cane is equal to 7 feet 3½ inches English English measure: The cane of Thioloufe and the upper Languedoc is equal to the varre of Arragon, and contains 5 feet 8½ inches; at Montpelier, Provence, Dauphine, and the lower Languedoc, to 6 English feet 5½ inches.