CHAP, v.] 



USES OF BAJIBOt. 



visited, tlieae gigaatic grasses were comparatively srarx-ci ; 

 and where found but little used, their place li«iug takeu a?4 

 to one class of uses by the great variet}^ of I'alms, and as 

 t<> another by calabashes and^ goin-ds. Almost all troiiical 

 countries prodxice Bamboos, and wherever they aru iVunid 

 in abundance the natives i»l»l"ly them to a variety of use.s. 

 Their strength lightness sinootliness stmiglilnei?!? ronnd- 

 uess and hoUownfss. the facility and reguhirity with which 

 they can be split, theii" many diiferent sizes, tlie varying 

 length of their joints, the ease with which they can be 

 cut iuid with which holess can he made through them, 

 their hardness outside, tlicir freedom from any pronounced 

 taste or smell, their great abundance, and the rapidity nf 

 their growth and increase, are all qualities which render 

 them useful for a lunidred different purposes, to serve 

 which other materials %vould require mncli more labour 

 and preparation. The Bamboo is one of the most won- 

 rlcrfiil and most l)eautiful productions of the tropics, 

 and one of nature's most valuable gifts to UDcivilized 

 man. 



The Dyak houses are all raised on posts, and are often 

 two or tiiree hundred feet loug and forty or fifty wide. 

 The floor is always formed of strips split from largu 

 lUmboos, so that each may be nearly ilat and about three 

 inches wide, and these are firmly tie<i down with rattan to 

 the joists beneath. AVhen well made, this is a delighLfal 

 tloiu- to wrdk upon barefooted, the rounded surfaces of the 

 bamboo being very smooth and agreeable to the feet, whde 

 at the same time affording a firm hold- But, what is more 

 iuqjortant, they form with a mat over them an excellent 

 bed, the elasticity of the Bamboo and its rounded surface 

 being far superior to a more rigid and a Hatter floor. 

 Here we at; once find a use for Bamboo which catraot bo 

 supphed so well by another material witliout a vast, 

 amoimt of labonr, palms and other substitutei^ requiring 

 much cutting and smoothing, and not being equally gootl 

 when finished When, however, a flat, close floor is 

 required, excellent boards are maile by splitting open large 

 Bamboos on one side only, and llattening tbein out so as 

 to form slaijs eighteen inches wide and six h'ct long, with 

 which aouie Dyaks floor their houses* These with con- 



