Milford chronicle., 1901-07-19
DISCOVERIES OF AMERICA.
Suggestion That BuddhIsts Came
Herc Lnnrr nefGre Cnlnmhus

Suggestion That BuddhIsts Came
Here Long BefGre Columbus.
In Harper's Professor Fryer Of the
University of California brings to light
new evidence tending TO prove that Bud
dhist priests discovere America 1000
years before the sailinA II Columbus.
The evidence is both doc ,ntary and
substantial. OF the evidel If early
ChiRese documents Professor says: /
'.Fhe narrative states that tn, was
Buddhist priest named Hui She, orig /
hurry native of Kabul, who in the year |
400 4. d., during the reign Of the EN- |
perOr Yang Yuan, came from the country
Of Fusang TO Kingchow, the capital Of
the dynasty of Isl, situated on the river
YaRg-tsp The country being in a state
of revolution, it was not till the year 5O2
that he had an opportunity Of going to
the court of the Emperor WI Ii of the
new Liang dynasty. He gave presents
TO the emperor of curious articles brought
from Fusang, among which was mate
rial looking like silk, but the threads Of
which could support a great weight with
ont breaking. This was evidently the
fiber of the Mexican agave. He also
presented a mirror of a foot in diameter,
possessing wonderful properties and re-
sembling those in use in Mexico and 9th
er localities in America at that time.
/ The emperor treated him as an envoy
| from Fusang and deputed one of the four
| principal feudal lords, named Yu Kie, to
interrOgate him respecting the country
| and to take down his story in writing.
| This was accordingly done, and we have
Il what is undoubtedly the original text,
with only perhaps here and there typo
/ graphical error which can be easily eX-
planned.
"Among things, Hui Shen said that the
people of Fusang were formerly in ignO-
rance of the doctrines Of Buddha, but
during the reign of the Chinese Emperor
TIA Ming Of the Sung dynasty, or A. D.
} a5S. there were five bikshus, or Buddhist
monks, from Kabul, who Travelled there
4 and promulgated the knowledge Of the
I doctrines, books and images Of Bud
dhism. Their labOrs were successful, 81
n that they ordained monks from among
!, the natives, and thus the customs anC
manners of the people were soon reform
: ed.
~He gave particulars Of the journe.
p through the Aleutian islands and Alaska
s with the length of the route and a dc
! scription of the inhabitants. He descrit
e ed the country of Fusang as 10000 Ii, 0
al G.500 miles, to the east of Kamchatk
4 ! md also due east from China. 1t grow
great numbers of fusang trees, whic
= when they first appear above ground al
like bamboo shoots, and the people ei
~ them. Threads are spun from the ski
n of the plant, which are woven into clot
a from which clothing is made, or else it
made into embroidery. They also use Il
ed fitrous material Of the fusang for ma
n. ing paper. These and many other fe
m tfires seem to point Enthusiastically to Il
4. Mexican agave. Red pears are mentiO
10 Ell. which agree in description with t
~ fruit of the prickly pear, while crap
are represented as plentiful. There
III plenty of copper, but no iron, and
n money value is put on gold or silv'
as Their markets are free, and there are
nd Fixed prices.
"The manners and customs Of the pC
Isl pie, their forms of government, their mi
al riage and funeral ceremonies, their 70
- and clothing, the method of construct
their houses, the absence Of soldiers a
~ military weapons, cities and fortress
LII are all particularly noted and agree W
ng what is found in no countries bOrderi
lon on the Pacific, except on the continent
mi. America in general and in Mexico in p
Ighl tieular. To suppose that Hui Shen co
the have invented all these statements {
,vV that his story can be satisfactorily
planned upon any other theory than {
he had actually made the journey WI
he so truthfully and sobery describes
70 saw the least Of 1t, absurd"