林懷蘭(lan),中(zhong)(zhong)國引(yin)種番(fan)薯第(di)一人,廣東省湛(zhan)江市吳川市梅菉(lu)鎮人,于明萬歷年間由越南將番(fan)薯種帶回中(zhong)(zhong)國。
商(shang)務印書館于1934年編印的《辭源》釋“番薯(shu)”一詞的注解:“其(qi)本出于交趾(今越南),吳川人林懷(huai)蘭(lan)嘗得其(qi)種以歸,遍(bian)種于粵(yue),因不患兇旱。電(dian)白縣有懷(huai)蘭(lan)祠,題曰番薯(shu)林公廟。”
《電白縣志》記載:“霞洞鄉(xiang)有番(fan)薯林(lin)公(gong)廟,副榜崔騰云率鄉(xiang)人(ren)建立。相傳番(fan)薯出(chu)(chu)交(jiao)趾(zhi),國(guo)人(ren)嚴禁以(yi)種入中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)著罪死(si)。吳川人(ren)林(lin)懷蘭善醫(yi),薄游交(jiao)州,醫(yi)其關將有效,因(yin)薦醫(yi)國(guo)王(wang)之(zhi)女,病亦良已。一日(ri)賜食熟番(fan)薯,林(lin)求食生(sheng)者,懷半截而出(chu)(chu),亟辭歸中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)。過關為關將所(suo)詰。林(lin)以(yi)實對,且求私(si)縱焉。關將曰:‘今(jin)日(ri)之(zhi)事,我(wo)食君(jun)祿,縱死(si)不忠(zhong),然感先生(sheng)之(zhi)德,背之(zhi)不義。’遂赴(fu)水死(si)。林(lin)乃(nai)歸,種遍于粵。今(jin)廟祀(si)之(zhi),旁以(yi)關將配。”
廣(guang)東(dong)電白縣(xian)(xian)霞(xia)洞鄉的“番薯(shu)林公廟”,是為紀念(nian)林懷(huai)(huai)蘭和守隘關將(jiang)而建。據廣(guang)東(dong)《電白縣(xian)(xian)志》記(ji)載:廣(guang)東(dong)吳川縣(xian)(xian)中醫林懷(huai)(huai)蘭,醫術(shu)高明,經常到交(jiao)趾(zhi)國(guo)(今(jin)越南(nan))行醫,并(bing)為守關將(jiang)領治病。明萬(wan)歷年(nian)間,他將(jiang)薯(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)帶回電白縣(xian)(xian)栽種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。按當時交(jiao)趾(zhi)國(guo)法令,外運薯(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)要處死刑,關將(jiang)為感謝林懷(huai)(huai)蘭救命之恩,把林放過(guo)關,而自殺。林懷(huai)(huai)蘭帶回薯(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)在電白縣(xian)(xian)試種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),成功后迅速推廣(guang)。
《梅菉志》載(zai):“懷(huai)蘭積(ji)埇(yong),周(zhou)遭數里,斜亙中流,相傳(chuan)明季林懷(huai)蘭作海客(ke),采得番薯種,船(chuan)返(fan)至此(ci),遇風擊沉,日(ri)久積(ji)成沙埇(yong)。近有番薯,懷(huai)蘭之力也。”
電白番薯(shu)林公(gong)廟(miao)在(zai)(zai)1956年(nian)被(bei)拆毀。林懷(huai)(huai)蘭(lan)(lan)墓原(yuan)在(zai)(zai)梅菉麻(ma)坡(po)(同(tong)德路),1964年(nian)因建(jian)梅菉盲老院,墳已被(bei)挖去,墓碑亦難以尋找。現在(zai)(zai)梅菉轄內的(de)(de)圍蘭(lan)(lan)埇(懷(huai)(huai)蘭(lan)(lan)積埇)便是當(dang)年(nian)林懷(huai)(huai)蘭(lan)(lan)生活過(guo)的(de)(de)地(di)方,懷(huai)(huai)蘭(lan)(lan)埇原(yuan)有上下兩村,村中住(zhu)的(de)(de)多是林懷(huai)(huai)蘭(lan)(lan)后人,1951年(nian)住(zhu)戶全部遷到上村,下村已被(bei)江(jiang)水沖毀。
甘薯傳(chuan)入中國通過多條渠(qu)道,時間(jian)約在16世紀末葉,至(zhi)少有三(san)種可能的途徑:
一是(shi)葡(pu)萄(tao)牙人從(cong)美洲傳(chuan)到緬(mian)甸,再傳(chuan)入中國云(yun)南(nan);
一是葡萄牙人(ren)傳(chuan)到越南,東(dong)莞人(ren)陳益(yi)或者吳川(chuan)人(ren)林(lin)懷蘭(lan)再傳(chuan)入(ru)廣東(dong);
一是西班(ban)牙人(ren)從(cong)美洲(zhou)傳到呂宋,長(chang)樂人(ren)陳振(zhen)龍再傳入中國福(fu)建(jian)。
野生(sheng)種起源于美洲的(de)熱帶(dai)地區,由印第安人人工種植成功,哥倫(lun)布初(chu)見西(xi)班牙(ya)(ya)女(nv)王時,曾(ceng)將(jiang)由新大陸帶(dai)回(hui)的(de)甘(gan)薯(shu)(即(ji)番(fan)薯(shu))獻(xian)給女(nv)王,西(xi)班牙(ya)(ya)水(shui)手(shou)又將(jiang)甘(gan)薯(shu)傳至呂宋(song)(今菲律賓),葡萄(tao)牙(ya)(ya)水(shui)手(shou)將(jiang)甘(gan)薯(shu)傳至交趾(今越南)。自廣東傳入(ru),為林懷(huai)蘭和陳(chen)(chen)益攜來(lai),得(de)自交趾;自福建傳人,為陳(chen)(chen)振(zhen)龍(long)攜來(lai),得(de)自呂宋(song)。三路先后傳入(ru),互不(bu)關(guan)聯,其中林懷(huai)蘭帶(dai)回(hui)來(lai)的(de)是番(fan)薯(shu),陳(chen)(chen)益和陳(chen)(chen)振(zhen)龍(long)帶(dai)回(hui)來(lai)的(de)均是番(fan)薯(shu)藤。
陳振龍(long):清陳世元《金薯(shu)傳習錄(lu)》中(zhong)援(yuan)引(yin)《采(cai)錄(lu)閩(min)(min)侯合志》:“按番薯(shu)種出海(hai)外呂(lv)宋。明萬歷(li)年間閩(min)(min)人陳振龍(long)貿(mao)易(yi)其(qi)地,得藤苗(miao)及(ji)栽(zai)種之(zhi)法入中(zhong)國。值閩(min)(min)中(zhong)旱饑。振龍(long)子經(jing)綸(lun)白于巡撫金學曾(ceng)令試為(wei)種時,大(da)有收獲,可(ke)充(chong)谷食之(zhi)半(ban)。自是磽確之(zhi)地遍(bian)行栽(zai)播(bo)。”
陳(chen)益(yi):《東莞(guan)縣志·物產(chan)·薯》所引《鳳岡陳(chen)氏族譜(pu)》載:“萬歷(li)(li)八年(nian)(1580年(nian)),客有泛(fan)舟之(zhi)安南(nan)(今越(yue)南(nan))者,公(陳(chen)益(yi))偕往(wang),比至,酋長延禮賓(bin)館,每宴會,輒饗土(tu)產(chan)曰薯者,味(wei)甘美。公覬其種(zhong),賄(hui)于酋奴,獲之(zhi)。……未幾伺間遁歸(gui)。……萬歷(li)(li)十年(nian)(1582年(nian))夏,乃抵(di)家焉。……嗣是(shi)種(zhong)播天南(nan)。”