Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-16
Chinese Discovery of America
14OO Years Ago.

Chlnese Discovery of America
1400 Years Ago.
The Spaniirds discovered America $40 years
ago The Welsh claim an earlier discovery
in favor Of dheir Prince Madoc The North
men of the eleventh century, claim the honor
of the first discovery at even an earlier date.
But the Chinese claim it prior to them a'l-at
a time according to their history about l40O
years agb
In Chinese history we find descriptions of
vast co6pty 10000 le to the Eastward, across
the great ocean, which from the dessiption Civ
en-, u,hst be California AND MexieoS The ac.-
count states that several Buddhist priests at
Bingchau, about A. D. 400, having arrived
there, reported that Fusang (America) lay to
the east about 90 900 le, or 5000 miles from
japan and that in A. D. 459, FIVE mendicant
priests went there and distributed Buddhist
tracts and images among the inhabitants, which
by tint means changed their customs, as Budd-
hism vas not formly known to them
The Inscription of Fusang, as given by the
Chinese historian, differs but little from that
given be the Spaniards, when they conquered
Mexico. He calls the country Fusang, from
the name of particular tree tkat grew there,
in which he describes thus: "The leaves of
the fusang' when first produced, resembles those
of the bamboo. The inhabitants cat the fruit,
like pairs. and weave its bulk into cloth for
clothing and articles of embroidery. They
have books, which are written on the bark of a
fusang" Of this tree (the maguey,) Prescott
says, that its "bruised leaves afforded paste {.
IRON which paper was made its juice was man
ufactured into an intoxicating beverage, 'pulque,
OF which the natives, to this day, are excessive
ly fond; its leaves supplied an impenetrable lie
lhach for the humble dive Ilings thread OF
which coarse stuffs were made, and strong cords
from lis tough and twisted fbres, pins and
needles were made of the horns al the eytrem.
lty of its leaves and the root when properly
cooked, was converted into paatable and nu-
trlilous food. the maguey, in short. was meat
drink, clothing, and writing for the Aztec
Surely, never did nature enclose, in so compact
form, so many of the elements of human com
fort and civilization.
Again The Chinese historian states " tha
they had not iron, but they possessed copper
They did not esteem gold and silver. The use
of iron was unknown to them, but they fount
a substitute in an alloy of copper and tin, will
which they could cut metal and stones" Sill
yer, the great staple Of their country a. III
iimc Of ihe conquest, may have, ihonsap
wears carfs, Oten anno,Iced Of uscoVeteu b
ihcm
By carefully examining the Chinese his,or
and comparing with that of Prescotts e" Con
quest of Mexco,' we find but few points g
difference. In their treatment of criminals
habits of the judges, religion, and in man
other respects, they agree with each other S
well, that no doubts need be entertained in tn
least regarding the authenticity of the Chimes
accounts The relig ion of the Aztecs was
most respects like Buddhism. Their arts, il
anu CuotoiISi "ClO diuioot 'lC odilC
those of the Chinese. By a careful examina
| ton and contrasting Of both histories, inqurin
minds will not doubt in the least that the CHI
; nese discovered this continent thousand year
earlier than any other nation.
Most people in California have noticed tn
: sim ilitude existing between the Indians an
5 Chinese, both in feature and the accent of the
0 monosy Liable dialects, and from my own exp
n rience find that they are nearly the same. Th
K Chinese accent can be traced throughout til
e Indian language though the most of the Di
e ger Indians with whom have coRversed, spes
9 great deal of the ancient Aztec language. N
= wishing to pursue this subject much farther
:. present, will transcrbe few words for II
e purpose of showing the anology as follows ::