It was a plantation on the coast near Charleston that we visited. They did say the rice was grown by the know how of the slaves. The only real difference between the accounts seems to be how the rice trade started.
What we were told is that the slaves grew it to feed themselves (with the permission of the slave holder) and later the slave holders discovered what a gold mine it was. Supposedly the slaves were brought over for other purposes than rice production.
Interesting, metmom. I think I’ll be putting that on my list of things to investigate/research...very soon.
If only the Africans who never left home could do as well:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/world/africa/10rice.html?_r=1&oref=slogin