Three Stories of Rice
Story One:
“Rice was first planted in South Carolina, about the year 1688: when by chance a little of it, of a small unprofitable kind, was introduced into the state. In the year 1696, a bag of a larger and whiter rice was presented, by a captain of a brigantine from Madagascar, to the governor: who divided it between several gentlemen.”
Governor John Drayton, 1802
Story Two:
“Carolina Gold rice, world renowned because of its superior quality as compared with all other varieties of rice throughout the world, was grown from seed brought to the province of Carolina about the year 1685. This rice had been raised in Madagascar, and a brigantine sailing from that distant island happened, in distress, to put into the port of Charles Town. While his vessel was being repaired, its captain, John Thurber, made the acquaintance of some of the leading citizens of that town. Among them was Dr. Henry Woodward, probably its best known citizen…To Woodward Captain Thurber gave a small quantity of rice – less we are told, than a bushel – which happened to be on his ship. The gentleman of the name Woodward… himself planted some of it, and gave some to a few of his friends to plant.”
Duncan Clinch Heyward, 1937
Story Three:
“An enslaved African woman, unable to prevent her children’s sale into slavery, placed some rice seeds in their hair so they would be able to eat after the ship reached its destination. As their hair was very thick, she thought the grains would go undiscovered. However, the planter who bought them found the grains. In running his hands through one child’s hair, he pulled out the seeds and demanded to know what they were. The child replied, This is food from Africa.”
From an oral interview collected by Judith A. Carney 1999