Chapter CURRY-STUFF to CUSTARD-APPLE of C by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

was certainly introduced from America (see Vidara and Visvasaraka, in his Skt. Dictionary).

A new difficulty, moreover, arises as to the indigenous claims of ata, which is the name for the fruit in Malabar as well as in Upper India. For, on turning for light to the splendid works of the Dutch ancients, Rheede and Rumphius, we find in the former (Hortus Malabaricus, part iv.) a reference to a certain author, ‘Recchus de Plantis Mexicanis,’ as giving a drawing of a custard-apple tree, the name of which in Mexico was ahaté or até, “fructu apud Mexicanos praecellenti arbor nobilis” (the expressions are noteworthy, for the popular Hindustani name of the fruit is sharifa=“nobilis”). We also find in a Manilla Vocabulary that ate or atte is the name of this fruit in the Philippines. And from Rheede we learn that in Malabar the ata was sometimes called by a native name meaning “the Manilla jack-fruit”; whilst the Anona reticulata, or sweet-sop, was called by the Malabars “the Parangi (i.e. Firingi or Portuguese) jack-fruit.”

These facts seem to indicate that probably the ata and its name came to India from Mexico viâ the Philippines, whilst the anona and its name came to India from Hispaniola viâ the Cape. In the face of these probabilities the argument of General Cunningham from the existence of the tree in a wild state loses force. The fact is undoubted and may be corroborated by the following passage from “Observations on the nature of the Food of the Inhabitants of South India,” 1864, p. 12:—“I have seen it stated in a botanical work that this plant (Anona sq.) is not indigenous, but introduced from America, or the W. Indies. If so, it has taken most kindly to the soil of the Deccan, for the jungles are full of it”: [also see Watt, Econ. Dict. ii. 259 seq., who supports the foreign origin of the plant]. The author adds that the wild custard-apples saved the lives of many during famine in the Hyderabad country. But on the other hand, the Argemone Mexicana, a plant of unquestioned American origin, is now one of the most familiar weeds all over India. The cashew (Anacardium occidentale), also of American origin, and carrying its American name with it to India, not only forms tracts of jungle now (as Sir G. Birdwood has stated) in Canara and the Concan (and, as we may add from personal knowledge, in Tanjore), but was described by P. Vincenzo Maria, more than two hundred and twenty years ago, as then abounding in the wilder tracts of the western coast.

The question raised by General Cunningham is an old one, for it is alluded to by Rumphius, who ends by leaving it in doubt. We cannot say that we have seen any satisfactory suggestion of another (Indian) plant as that represented in the ancient sculpture of Bharhut. [Dr. Watt says: “They may prove to be conventional representations of the jack-fruit tree or some other allied plant; they are not unlike the flower-heads of the sacred kadamba or Anthocephalus,” (loc. cit. i. 260)]. But it is well to get rid of fallacious arguments on either side.

In the “Materia Medica of the Hindus by Udoy Chand Dutt, with a Glossary by G. King, M.B., Calc. 1877,” we find the following synonyms given:—

“Anona squamosa: Skt. Gandagatra; Beng. Ata; Hind. Sharifa, and Sitaphal.”

“Anona reticulata: Skt. Lavali; Beng. Lona.”¹

1672.—“The plant of the Atta in 4 or 5 years come to its greatest size…the fruit…under the rind is divided into so many wedges, corresponding to the external compartments…The pulp is very white, tender, delicate, and so delicious that it unites to agreeable sweetness a most delightful fragrance like rose-water…and if presented to one unacquainted with it he would certainly take it for a blamange.…The Anona,” &c., &c.—P. Vincenzo Maria, pp. 346-7.

1690.—“They (Hindus) feed likewise upon Pine-Apples, Custard-apples, so called because they resemble a Custard in Colour and Taste.…”—Ovington, 303.

c. 1830.—“…the custard-apple, like russet bags of cold pudding.”—Tom Cringle’s Log, ed. 1863, p. 140.

1878.—“The gushing custard-apple with its crust of stones and luscious pulp.”—Ph Robinson, In my Indian Garden, [49].