Some Rice Krispie treats can get pretty hard if left out too long. The sticky rice used in Chinese cooking gets its stickiness from the glutens in the soft rice as opposed to marshmallows in the treats. Often the rice is used to coat dim sum dumplings (in lieu of the flour-based buns or won-ton sheets).
Although the species of rice plants may be different, quite a few Italian dishes call for rice with a soft, sricky consistency. Maybe Marco Polo and crew kept themselves alive by hanging around construction sites in China.
You'd see the little parcels dumped all over the area the next morning.