•204 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. 



Sanskrit poem Ramayana, in a fine touch of fancy christened the Anona and 

 the custard apple, Ram%phal "Rimis fruit," and Sitaphal, " Sita' s fruit" 

 •respectively. 



But the poetical fancy of an anonymous Hindu is no proof that these plants 

 are originally from India. Above all it is no evidence against historical truth, 

 against the unshaken opinion of Botanists, such as A. de Condolle in his classical 

 work already quoted, Graham, in his Catalogue of the Bombay Plants, Dalzell and 

 Gibson in their Bombay Flora, and so many other botanists, historians and 

 travellers, all of whom are unanimous that the two anonacece in question came 

 from America. 



There are besides other proofs that India owes the Anona squamosa and A. 

 reticulata to the Portuguese. 



The Indian botanist Dr. J. C. Lisboa, in his work with the prudence and 

 scruples of a, scientist exposed his views in an interesting article in the Times 

 of India in March 1894. 



" These plants grow wild and are naturalized in various parts of India, 

 specially near Mussalman cemeteries (Dalz. and Gibs.). Hence it is believed by 

 many people that these fruits are natives of India. This opinion is also held by 

 .an Indian doctor, who when in Government Service had travelled much, and 

 -seen them growing wild over extensive tracts in central and other parts of India. 



" Now the question is, if the opinion of M, de Condolle and other botanists 

 and writers be true, how and when did these fruits receive the Indian names 

 Sita and Rama. 



" The Indian doctor just alluded to tells me that when the legendary Rama 

 •and Sita were expelled from the kingdom— supposed to be Oudh— they went 

 to a jungle where anonas grew wild and lived on them — hence the names 

 Ramaphal and Sitaphal. But nobody versed in Hindu mythology believes in 

 this opinion. Dr. Bhandarkar tells me that the whole history of Rama and Sita 

 is a myth. 



" It is true that the delicious fruit Sitaphal on occasions of famine has 

 literally proved to be the staff of life to the natives. 



But it is to be remembered that it flowers during the early part of the hot 

 season, and the fruit ripens in July, August, and September. On what then did 

 Sita and Rama live during the rest of the year, when these fruits were not in 

 season ; and if they did live on other fruits why were only these called after 

 -their names ? 



" I shall be much obliged if some of your readers can throw light on the 

 .question of the origin of Anonas." 



These doubts could be cleared by the simple statement that Sitaphal and 

 Ramphal are not to be found in the Bamayaria, that Ata and the .Anona did 

 neither exist in India in those mythological times, nor in subsequent historical 

 "times, and that consequently the fabulous Eama and his wife the Helen of the 

 Hindus, had neither seen nor tasted the two fruits. No trace of these names 

 •can be found in the poem of Valmiki, or in classical Sanscrit. 



