THE HISTORY OF THE COWPEA. 45 



(he (lolichofi of Thooplirastus has been definitely referred [by other 

 authors] to the s<<n'Ut niniwr \PhaxcoluH coccineus {P. inultlforus 

 Lam.)]. 'Hid the fasiolus to the dwarf haricot [Phaseolus vulgaris'] 

 of our gardens * * * _ j ^an only say it may be so." Again 

 (p. 347) : ''^Lobion in Dioscorides is the fruit of Ph. vulgaris, at least 

 in the opinion of commentators." 



DeCandolle, however, apparently did not examine very carefully 

 the evidence of the American origin of these plants. The early 

 accounts of discovery in America contain references to leguminous 

 ])lants Avhich indicate that they were extensively used by the natives 

 of the New World. 



Hariot, 1588, "A Brief and True Report of the New Found Land 

 of Virginia," mentions two kinds: One, " Okindgier, called by us 

 Beanes, because in greatness and partly in shape they are like to 

 Beanes in England; saving that they are flatter, of more divers 

 colours, and some pide. The leafe also of the stemme is much differ- 

 ent." The other plant, '' "Wickonzowr, called by us Pease, in respect 

 of the beanes for distinction sake, because they are much less; al- 

 though in form they little differ; but in goodness of taste much, and 

 are far better than our English peaze." Captain John Smith, 1612 

 (Workes, (S), writes: '" They jilant also pease they cal Assentamens, 

 which are the same they cal in Italye, Fagioli Their Beanes are the 

 same the Turkes cal Garnanses, but these they much esteeme for 

 dainties." « The same author, 1G16 (AA'orks, 207), in a description of 

 Xew England, mentions " beans and pease " among the " hearbes and 

 fruits," but gives no descriptions. Josselyn, 1675 (Voyages, 73-74), 

 distinguished four kinds of beans or peas, " French beans ; or, rather 

 American beans. The herbalists call them kidney-beans, from their 

 shape and effects ; for they strengthen the kidneys. They are varie- 

 gated much — some bigger, a great deal, than others; some wdiite, 

 black, red, yellow, blue, spotted; besides your Bonivis, and Cala- 

 vayices, and the kidney-bean that is proper to Ronoake. But these 

 are brought into the country; the others are natural to the climate." 

 Lawson, 1714 (History of Carolina, 130, 131), mentions several kinds 

 of " pulse " as '' bushel bean," " Indian rounceval, or miraculous peas," 

 " bonavis," " calavancies," and " nanticokes." He also says " the 

 kidney beans were here before the English came, being very plentiful 

 in the Indian corn fields." Brickell, 1737 (Natural History of North 



a Gray and Trumbull, 1883, American Journal of Science, 26 : 1.32, think these 

 names are confounded. " Garvancc was the French name of the Chick Pea 

 {Cicer arietinum), the Spanish garhanzo; and it is not probable that the 

 ' Turks ' gave this name to any kind of beans ; while fagiuoli was the Italian 

 equivalent of Latin phaseoli. Strachy's Virginian vocabulary gives assentamens 

 (and otassentamens) for 'pease,' and peccatoas, peketawes, for 'beans.'" 



102— VI 



