OF ACCOMPANYING ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 383 



2), Bindusara (Allitrochathes) succeeded by his son Priyadase or Asoka, now king at Pataliputra on 

 the Ganges* — He reigned "thirty-seven," or according to the Mahavamsa xx. "forty" years. 



"256 B. C. ="59th year of Nan-wang " (Chinese chron. table), end of the Tcheou dynasty. 



"255 B. C. =: S2d year of Siang-wang II.," now head of the new dynasty of the Thsin — 

 (Chinese chron. table). 



"The same year" (Polyb., Zonar., and Clint.), in Africa, Regulus defeated and taken prisoner 

 by the Carthaginians under the Spartan general Xantippus. 



"253 B. C." (Sm. b. d.), at Rome, Cn. Servilius Caepio and C. Sempronius Blaesus consuls, the 

 first plebeian pontifex maximus Tib. Coruncanius. 



251 B. C. (= his "tenth year" in the 8th inscription at Girnar, Burnouf ii. 732), king Asoka 

 already a Budhist. He is said to have been converted by Nigrodha (Max Mull. p. xx). The inscrip- 

 tions bearing the name of Asoka on Buddhist cave-temples not earlier than his conversion, and he is 

 said to have erected the greatest monuments of Budhism. 



"In this year" (Burm. hist, and Mason 40), Ranman succeeded by his son Rekkhan, now 

 Burmese king. — Rekkhan reigned " thirty-one " years, is said to have had many wives, and to 

 have been a remarkable shot with a cross-bow. f 



"250 B. C. = ist year of Hiao-weng-wang, of the Thsin" or Sixth dynasty (Chinese chron. 

 table). 



The same year (Euseb., Blair, and Clint, iii. p. 315), revolt against the Greek king of Syria of 

 the Bactrians under Theodotus and Parthians under Arsaces. Recovering their independence, the 

 Parthians — (Persians) ruled for the succeeding " 475 years " by the Arsacidas ; a dynasty of " thirty- 

 one " successive kings, whose numerous coins all bear Greek inscriptions. 



"249 B. C. = ist year of Tchoung-siang-wang, of the Thsin" or Sixth dynasty — (Chinese 

 chron. table). 



The same year (= his "twelfth year" in the 4th inscription at Girnar, Lassen, and Burn. ii. 731), 

 king Asoka publicly professing Budhism. An inscription of the same date dedicating a cave-temple 

 (Burnouf ii. 779). 



One of the inscriptions at Girnar contains the name " Tambapanni," — regarded as the " Tapro- 

 vane " of the Greeks (Sm. geogr. diet.) or island of Madagascar. 



Thylachium sumangui of Madagascar. A Capparideous bush called there "voua sumangui," 

 and growing in the Emirne district. — By European colonists, carried to the Mauritius Islands, and 

 cultivated there in the Botanic garden (Boj.). 



Abutilon angulosum of Madagascar. A bush called there "hafou poutsi." — Carried to the 

 Mauritius Islands, and cultivated there (Boj.). 



Hilsenbergia cannabina of Madagascar. A tree called "hafoutra," growing in the extensive 

 forests and on high mountains in the Emirne district. — Carried repeatedly to the Mauritius Islands, 

 but not cultivated there with success (Boj.). 



Shakua excelsa of Madagascar. Called there " shakoua," fruit-tree, growing on the Northwestern 

 side of the island in the Saccalava district, — and observed by Bojer around St. Augustin Bay. 

 Carried to the Mauritius Islands, and cultivated there (Boj.). 



Shakua miner of Madagascar. A shrub, growing around St. Augustin Bay and called "shakoua 

 keli." — Carried to the Mauritius Islands, and cultivated there (Boj.). 



Sorindeia Madagascarensis of Madagascar and the neighbouring portion of Africa. Called on 

 Madagascar " voua sourindi " (Boj.) ; and known there as early probably as this date: — observed 

 by Grant in East Africa, on the "banks of rivers y° S.,'' a tree with mango-tasting fruit, large as a 



* Jonesia asoca of Tropical Hindustan and Burmah. A flowering tree called in the environs 

 of Bombay "jassoondie " (Graham), in Sanscrit "vanjula" or "asoca" (W.Jones): the name not 

 older than the accession of Asoka, although according to Hindu mythology Guadama was born under 

 this tree — (Klapr., and Mason v. 403) : the "asoka" is mentioned in the Avadana Asoka (Burn, 

 i. 365) ; also by Valmiki ramayan. ; in the Mrichchhakati iv. as planted in gardens and having rich 

 crimson flowers ; its flowers ornamenting curls, by Kalidasa kum. iii. 26 and ragh. viii. 61 ; and is 

 prescribed medicinally by Susrutas (Hessl.) : J. asoca was observed in Hindustan by Rheede v. pi. 

 50, W. Jones as. res. iv. p. 274, Roxburgh, and Wight ; by Graham, in gardens and near caves 

 "evidently planted," found by Law "wild in jungles at the foot of the Ram Ghaut." Farther East, 

 is enumerated by Mason as indigenous in Burmah and called " a-thau-ka-pho." By European colo- 

 nists, was carried to the Mauritius Islands, where it continues under cultivation (Boj.). 



t Dalbergia ? of Southern Burmah. The Maulmain lance-wood, a tree found all over the 

 Tenasserim provinces (Mason), possibly furnished the material of Rekkhan's cross-bow: — at the 

 present day according to Mason 530, its wood is sometimes used by the Karens to " make bows of." 



