20 FLORA OF THE 



(a) That it was known in S. Asia from a very re- 

 mote period, and that Arab and Persian traders must 

 have been early acquainted with it. 



(l>) That probably it was grown in S. Arabia and 

 S. Persia. Its rooted stumps can easily be carried to 

 a distance, and will then strike and grow under favor- 

 able conditions, 



(c) The fruit might have been easily carried from 

 S. Arabia and S. Persia to Babylonia in traders' coast- 

 ing ships. It admits of being cut green in bunches and 

 ripened off the plant afterwards. In going from Bombay 

 to Ceylon in one of the coasting steamers we had bunches 

 of plantains in the green state hung on deck, and served 

 in clusters as they ripened. There can hardly be much- 

 doubt that in Assyrian times the Persian and Arab 

 seamen did the same thing, taking in fresh supplies 

 from the coast towns they touched at, until they brought 

 their last lot to Babylon. 



{d) That, although the Babylonians might have got 

 the banana fruit now and again, it must have been only as 

 a rare thing, to be presented to the King, and per- 

 sons of rank. This would account, perhaps, for the 

 Hebrews and ancient Egyptians not mentioning it, and 

 for the fruit only appearing at Royal banquets on the 

 monuments, while the plant itself is not found on the 

 sculptures. 



For this plant to flourish and fruit a tropical climate 



