Bann
two rivers in the N. E. of Ireland-the Upper Bann, flowing into, and the Lower Bann, out of, Lough Neagh. The Upper Bann rises in the Mourne Mountains, and runs 25 miles N. N. W. through the counties of Down and Armagh. The Lower Bann, strictly the continuation of the Upper, issues from the N. W. corner of Lough Neagh, and flows 40 miles N. N. W., through Lough Beg, dividing the counties of Antrim and Londonderry. It runs past Coleraine, into the Atlantic Ocean. It has important salmon and eel fisheries.
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Banquette
in fortification, the elevation of earth behind a parapet, on which the garrison of defenders may stand.
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Banquo
ban'kwo, in Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, a general in the king's army, of equal rank with Macbeth. The "Weird Sisters" prophesy that Banquo's descendants shall reign. Macbeth therefore hires assassins to slay him and his son. The son, however, escapes with his life. In one of the most powerful scenes of the play, the ghost of Banquo appears to Macbeth in the seat reserved for Banquo at a banquet, but is invisible to the other guests. The Holinshed Chronicle, regarded as Shakespeare's chief source of material for Macbeth, mentions "Banquho, the thane of Lochquhaber, of whom the house of the Stewards is descended." Many critics, however, believe Banquo to be a purely fictitious character. Sir Walter Scott says, "Early authorities show us no such persons as Banquo and his son Fleance. Neither were Banquo and his son ancestors of the house of Stuart." See Macbeth 2026 Editor's Note: Banquo's ghost silently taking his seat at the banquet is one of the most chilling moments in theater. Shakespeare had a courtly motive: King James I, his patron, claimed descent from Banquo, so the witches' vision of Banquo's royal line was a compliment to the reigning monarch — part of what makes Macbeth ' the Scottish play .' (Ed: BR 2026-07-02)
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Bantam
a well known variety of the domestic fowl. It was brought originally from the East Indies and is supposed to take its name from the seaport of Bantam, Java. The bantam weighs about a pound, not being much larger than a quail; but it is so full of fight that it drives ordinary fowls of five times its own weight. A small person of great pugnacity is not infrequently called a "bantam" in derision. See Chickens 2026 Editor's Note: The pugnacious little fowl lent its name to the boxing ring: ' bantamweight ' is still a division for the lighter, quicker fighters, and 'bantam' persists for any small, scrappy person. The birds themselves remain favorites of backyard poultry keepers, prized as much for their spirit as their tiny eggs. (Ed: BR 2026-06-29)
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Bantock
GRANVILLE, an English composer and conductor of music, born in London in 1868. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he won the Macfarren Prize in his first year in 1889. From 1893 to 1896 he was editor of "The New Quarterly Musical Review." In the latter year he became conductor of G. Edwardes' opera company. In the following year he was appointed municipal director of music at New Brighton, where he established an orchestra and choral society which, from the excellence of its performances, attracted wide attention. He was conductor of the Liverpool Orchestral Association in 1903, and in 1908 was appointed professor of music in Bir mingham University. He was a prolific producer of operas and other music. His special interest and attention were given to English music. His best known operas are "The Pearl of Iran" (1896);
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Bantry Bay
a deep inlet in the S. extremity W. of Ireland, in County Cork. It is 25 miles long, running E. N. E. with a breadth of 4 to 6 miles. At the head of the bay is the seaport Bantry, a famous summer resort. Pop. about 3,500. It is one of the finest harbors in Europe, affording safe and commodious anchorage for ships of all sizes . Here a French force attempted to land in 1796. The coast around is rocky and high.
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Banyan Tree
the ficus indica, a of the species genus ficus. It is regarded as a sacred tree by the Hindus. Its branches produce long shoots or aerial roots, which descend to the ground and penetrate the soil; so that, in course of time, a single tree becomes a vast umbrageous tent, supported by numerous columns . The fruit of the banyan is of a rich scarlet color, and about the size of a cherry; it is eaten by the monkeys, which live with birds and enormous bats in the thick forest of branches. The bark is a powerful tonic. The white glutinous juice of the tree is used to relieve toothache, as othan application to the soles of the feet when inflamed ed, and for making birdlime. Ficus elastica, which is also a native of India, yields an inferior kind of caoutchouc. Ficus sycamorus, the sycamore fig, is said to have yielded the wood from which mummy-cases were made.
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Baptism
It was said that at the witches' Sabbath children and toads were baptised with certain horrible rites. This was called the baptism of the devil.
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Baptism of the Line
A curious rite is performed on persons crossing the equator for the first time. The sailors who are to carry it out dress themselves in quaint costumes. The Father of the Line arrives in a cask, accompanied by a courier, a devil, a hair-dresser, and a miller. The unfortunate passenger has his hair curled, is liberally sprinkled with flour, and then has water showered upon him, if he is not ducked. The origin of this custom is not known, nor is it quite clear what part the devil plays in it. It is said, however, that it may be averted by tipping the sailors.
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Baquet
A large circular tub which entered largely into the treatment which D'Eslon, the friend and follower of Mesmer, prescribed for his patients. Puységur tells us in his book Du Magnétisme Animal, that in the baquet were placed some bottles, arranged in a particular manner, and partly covered with water. It was fitted with a lid in which were several holes, through which passed iron Bassantin rods, connecting the patients, who sat round the contrivance, with the interior of the tub. The operator was armed with a shorter iron rod. While the patients waited for the symptoms of the magnetic treatment, someone played upon a pianoforte, a device which is frequently adopted at séances. The symptoms included violent convulsions, cries, laughter, and vomiting. This state they called the crisis, and it was supposed to hasten the healing process. A commission appointed in 1784 by the French government through the Faculté de Médecine and the Societé royale de Médecine, reported that such practiceswere exceedingly dangerous, and in nowise proved the existence of the magnetic fluid. Dı. Bell a "professor of animal magnetism" set up a similar institution in England in 1785, using a large oak baquet.
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