160 BOTANY OF CONGO. 



Eorskal's Catalogue, or in the more extensive Flora Egyp- 

 tiaca of M. Delile. 



There is nothing very improbable in the supposition of 

 Arachis hypogsea being indigenous to Asia, Africa, and 

 even America ; but if it 1)e considered as originally belong- 

 ing to one of those continents only, it is more likely to have 

 been brought from China througli India to Africa, than to 

 have been carried in the opposite direction. 



GIf/ci/ie subterrcoiea, however, Avhich is extensively culti- 

 vated in Africa, Madagascar, and several parts of equinoctial 

 America, is probably of African origin ; it is stated, at 

 least both by Marcgraf and Piso, to have been introduced 

 into Brazil from Angola or Congo.^ 



The IIoIcHs noticed by Captain Tuckey, of which the 

 specimens in the herbarium do not enable me to determine 

 whether it be a distinct species, or a variety only of //. 

 sorglmm or saccharai/fs, may be considered as indigenous, 

 or at least as belonging to Africa. According to Mr. 

 Lockhart, it is very generally found wild, and it is only once 

 mentioned as cultivated : it may, however, have been 

 formerly cultivated, along Vruth other species of Millet, to 

 a much greater extent ; its place being now supplied by the 

 Maize, which gives probably both a more productive and 

 a more certain crop. 



The JDioscorea or bitter Yam, which was observed only in 

 a wild state, may be presumed to be a native species ; and 

 474] if ever it has been cultivated, it may in like manner be 

 supposed to have been superseded by the Manioc or 

 Cassava. 



The Saf((,^ which Mr. Lockhart understood from the 

 natives was one of their most esteemed fruits, he observed 

 to be very generally planted round the villages, especially 

 from Embomma upwards, and to be carefully preserved 

 from birds : its importance is perhaps increased from its 

 ripening in October, a season when the general supply of 

 vegetable food may be supposed to be scanty. 



1 Mandubi d' Angola. Marcg. Hist. Nat. Brasit. 43. Mandobi, Piso, Hist. 

 Nat. Bmsil. p. 256. 



2 Probably the Zaffo of some of <be earlier accounts of Congo, vide Malie- 

 Brim Precis de la Geogr. 5, /j. 9. 



