ASSYRIAN MONUMENTS. 



15 



THE BANANA {Mnsa sapientuvi). 



The reader might perhaps say that I have tried to 

 make out that the banana was a plant known to the 

 Assyrians from very small indications. But taking 

 into consideration the natural history of this plant, 

 and its importance as a food, wherever it can be 

 grown, or can be imported, we shall see that the 

 great probability is that the Assyrians, or the Baby- 

 lonians, zvere acquainted with it. Indeed, it would be 

 difficult to make out what else the Assyrian sculptor 

 could have meant by the banana-like things, which 

 are being partaken of, as refreshments, in association 

 with what appear like slices of melon. 



The things I mean are shown in fig. 9. 



Fig. 9. — From Botta's ' Monuments de Ninive.' 



a. PL 113, Tome II. c. PI. 6i, Tome I. 



d. PL 64, 



b. PL 146, ,, e. PL 65, 



The history of the banana, according to Professor 

 De Candolle, is interesting ; more especially as I am 



