18 FLORA OF THE 



which is found as early as the 13th century in Ebn 

 Baithar. But the Hebrews and ancient Egyptians did 

 not appear to know this plant ; " and therefore he 

 concludes that it did not exist in India from a very 

 remote period, but was first a native of the Malay 

 Archipelago. It bears distinct names in the most 

 separate Asiatic languages, Chinese, Sanskrit, and Malay, 

 and there is an immense number of varieties in South 

 Asia ; so that its existence there must have been of 

 great antiquity. 



Botanists have found it growing wild in many parts 

 of Asia — Chittagong, Khasia, Ceylon, Philippine Islands, 

 Siam, Cochinchina. 



Prof Terrien dc Lacouperie ^ has given a list of 

 Eastern names of the Banana, among which ^banana' 

 itself is one. According to Prof Robertson Smith the 

 name most probably comes from the Arabic banan, 

 ' fingers or toes,' banana being a ' single finger or toe.' 

 The similarity of the names and the objects denoted 

 can hardly be accidental. 



So that whether in America the banana may or may 

 not have been also indigenous matters little in this dis- 

 cussion. There is ample evidence to show that in Asia 

 it must have been known from the remotest antiquity. 



It is however a mistake, I think, to fancy that the 

 cultivated seedless varieties will not run to seed if 

 ' Babylonian and Oriental Record, July, 1S90, p. 176. 



