414 SlNO-lRANICA 



comprises nearly a hundred and sixty species, and of the cultivated fig 

 there is a vast number of varieties. 



According to the Yamato-honzo 1 of 1709, figs (icijiku) were first 

 introduced into Nagasaki in the period Kwan-ei Hi 7K (1624-44) from 

 the islands in the South-Western Ocean. This agrees with E. KAEM- 

 pFER's 2 statement that figs were brought into Japan and planted by 

 Portuguese. 



1 Ch. 10, p. 26 b. 



2 History of Japan, Vol. I, p. 180 (ed. reprinted Glasgow, 1906). 



