183 
in frequented parts. Then, as later with the Arabs, it was the 
practice of the slavers to ally themselves with a native king in 
order to raid another’s territory. 
Clusius (Rariorum ue um — 40; “Ui pe 79, 1601) 
informs us that the slav vers took food for their captives 
Though Clusius does not give information which puts Sloane’s 
ee beyond doubt, the fact that in the latter’s day these 
seeds we e used * to feed the negroes in their voyage from Guinea 
” 
is itself strong evidence. And rye arb a 1707 3 
hu ig 
similar set hi pier reache d the very heart of the continent 
from the east and west coasts (P. Ascherson in Sitzungsbericht d. 
Gesellschaft Natu as schehides Freunde zu Ber nae uae pp. 
-15 nor are parts unknown to which it nsion has 
only just reached (Stdhinand: Mit Emin Paves: Berlin, 1894, 
p. 498). 
arly as early,some region in Malaya or South China seems to 
have received the plant, which spread rapidly and deceived 
jJapmicus. The people _ South China seem to have early taken 
rie » 333), a name meaning “‘ Chinese bean.” It is interesting 
o note in passing that, gvisei to Hretadhiielder (Stud y of 
Chinese botanical wor ks, p 18) one of its names in China is 
“ Foreign bean. ” Africa dete to have sent it to the Bombay 
0, 
ob. Moxamibiens geen? (Dymock, Materia Medica India, ed. 2 
p- 247). Madagascar, var mere Réunion, &e., have probably 
received it from the same source 
To North America it spread more than a century ago, and it 
was cultivated by the stir in Carolina in the eighteenth centur 
here is evidence that it as grown in Virginia in 1781 (Sturtevant 
in American Natu a es xxiv., p. 150). 
At the end of last century its cultivation as a crop in Europe 
was first attempted ; “vi at a later date Australia and some of the 
Polynesian islands receiv it 
To how wide a range of latitude it is suited is shown by this 
extensive dispersl Proba ably the furthest north to which it can 
be s in Central Europe, e.g., Austria ; in the United States 
: is grown to 38° N., while the furthest south at which it is found 
s 30° 35° S. latitude 
