The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-05-05

Chinese Discovery ofAmerica 1900 Yeavs As'
The Spaniards discoved Amercs 849 yeau
ago. Tho Welsh claim an earlier discover.
in favor of their Prince Madoc. The North
men, of the l1th century claim the honor o
the first discovery at even an earlier date
But the Chinese claim il prior to them all
at time, according 10 their history, abou
l400 years ago.
In Chinese history we find descriptions o
vast country 10000 le to tho eastward
across the great ocean, which, from the de-
scription given, must be California and Mex
leo. The account states that several Buddhist
priests at Hingehau about A. D. 400 having
arrived there reported that Fusang (America,
lay to the east about 10000 le, or 9,00i
miles from Japan; aud that in A. D. 460
five mendicant priests had went there and dis
tributed Buddhists tracts and images among
the Inhabitants, which by that means chang.
cd their customs, as Buddhism was not for.
merly known to them.
The description of Fusang, as given BY
the Chinese historian, differs but little from
that given by the Spaniards, when they con-
quered Mexico. He calls the country Fnsang,
from the Damo Of a particular tree that grew
there, and when he describes thus: "The
leaves Of the fusang, when first produced, re-
semble those Of the bambo. The inhabitants
eat the fruit, like pears, and weave its bulk
into cloth for clothing and articles Of embroi-
derry. They have books, which are written
on the bark of the fusang." Of this tree
(the maguey) Prescott says that its "bruised
leaves afforded a paste, from which paper
was made; its juice was manufactured into
an intos eating beverage, (Pulque,) of which
the natives to this day are excessively fond; {;
its leaves supplied an imfenetrable thatch for
the more humble dwellings; thread, Of which
coarse stuffs were made, and strong cords
wete drawn from its tough and twisted fibres,
pins and needles were made of the thorns at
the extremity of its leaves; and the root,
when properly cooked, was converted into
palatablc and nutricious food. The maguey,
in short, was meat drink, clothing and wri-
ting material for the Aztec! Surely, never
did nature inclose, in so compact form, so
many of the elements of human comfort and
Again: The Chinese historian states "that
they had no iron, but they possessed copper.
They did not esteem gold and silver" The
use of iron was unknown to them, but they
found substitute in an alloy Of copper and tin
with which they could cut metal and stones.
Silver, the great staple Of their country at
the time of the conquest, may have, a thor
sand years earlier, been unnoticed or ancove.
ted by them.
BY carefully examining the Chinese history
and comparing IL With that Of Pfescott's
Conquest of Mexico we find but few points Of
difference. In their treatment Of criminals,
habits of the judges, religion, and in many
other respects they agree with each other so
we'll, that no doubts need be entertain d, in
he least, regarding the authenticity Of the
Chinese accounts. The religion of tho Az
ecs was in most respects like Buddhism
Their arts, institutions and customs were al
most the same as those of those Of the Chi |
leSe. BY careful examination and contrast
ng Of both histories, inquiring minds will
lot doubt in the least that the Chinese dis
overed this Continent thousand years ear
icr than any other nation.
Most people in California have noticed the
multitude existing betw en- the Indians and
}hinese, both in feature ana the accent of
heir monosylablo dialects, and from my own
Experience | find they are nearly the same.
The Chinese accent can be traced through
he Indian language; though the most Of the
bigger Indians with whom have eonversed,
peak great deal of the ancient Aztec Ian
uage. Not wishing to pursue this subject !
much further at present, will trapseribe
wv words for the purpose of showing the
nalopY. as follows: