Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-08
EARLY CHINESE EXPLORERS.
Records In Existence Allego They Visited
Mexico 1900 Years Ago.

Records In Existence Allego They Visited
Mexico 1900 Years Ago.
There is abundant evidence to
show the accurate knowledge pos
sessed by the Chinese of the coasts
of the northern Pacific as far as
Kamchatka, of which country very
full accounts are given by their writ
ers in the sixth and seventh centu-
ries.
The distance to Kamchatka from
China is given with great exactness,
and mention is made of the Aleutian
isles to the east of it and the custom
of painting their bodies practiced by
the inhabitants of these islands. 1t
is not such a very long step from the
Aleutian isles to the peninsula of
Alaska, and this, too, appears to be
clearly indicated in the Chinese rec
ords of that early date Further, at
the end of the fifth century the Chi
nese discovered a country lying a
great distance to the southeast of
Alaska, which there seems to be
good reason for placing in Mexico
or Central America.
The evidence for this discovery is
based on the report of Buddhist
priest named Hoei Shin, which was
ordered on the official annals of the
empire. Hoei Shin had returned to
China from a long journey to the
cast in A. D. 400, and he states that
he had visited a country which he
had named Fusang after Chinese
plant which resembles one that grew
in the newly discovered land, and
which the inhabitants made use of
for various purposes. He adds va
rious particulars about the country
and says he had been preceded by
five mendicant Buddhist monks from
some Asiatic kingdom, who had in
troduced the religion of Buddha into
Fusang in A. D. ASS, trr
An embassy from this distant land
is recorded ON one occasion, but there
is no record of any subsequent visit
of the Chinese to it. The evidence
consequently rests on the veracity OF
Hoei Shin. Attempts have been made
to throw doubt on the statements. 1t
remains to be considered, therefore,
whether the particulars mentioned
accord with what we know of these
countries before their occupation by
Europeans. 1t was certainly not with
the Aztec monarchy that Hoei Shin
came in contact, not even with the
Toltecs, those somewhat mysterious
predecessors of the Aztecs.
The journey was made in the dim
pre-Toltec period, of which only the
faintest outlines survive. Yet this
age was in all probability one OF 9
higher stage of culture than succeed,
ing periods, if it was then, as appears
likely, that the vast cities whose
ruins still astonish the traveller IN
Central America were the abodes oi
teeming population and the seat oi
a mighty empire. 1t is obvious
therefore, that we have no right K
expect any perfect resemblance O
the Mexican of the fifth century Il
the Mexican of 1000 years ago
while, if any points of coincidence
exist, the fact must be of great valu'
as evidence.
Now, it is astonishing how man,
Of the particulars in the Chimes
record do agree very closely with tn
well known facts about the inhab
itants of the district Of America il
question. Hoei Shin tells us that th,
people in Fusang had a monarchica
government, with different orders o
nobility. he speaks of their reckon
ing time by cycles Of years. HI
mentions also the custom Of accom-
panying royal professions with tn
sounds of horns and trumpets. III
says that the houses were built Q
wood; that iron was unknown; tina
copper, gold and silver were known
but not used in exchange or mucl
valued. Leisure Hour.