The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-07-10

DID THE BUDDHIsTs DISCOVER
 AMERICA?

The narrative (of the early Chinese documenD states that there was a Buddhist priest named Hui Shen, orig inally a native of Cabul, who in the year 499 A. D., during the reign of the Emperor Yung Yuan, came from the country of Fusang to King chow, the capital of the dynasty of Tsi, situated on the river Yang tse. The country being in A. state of revolution, it was not till the year 502 that he had an op- portunity of going to the court of the Emperor Wu ri, of the new Liang dy- nasty He gave presents to the Elm peror of curious articles brought from Fusang, among which was material looking like silk, but the threads of which could support a great weight without breaking. This was evidently the fibre of the Mexican agave. He also presented mirror of foot in diameter, possessing wonderful proper ties, and resembling those in use in Mexico and other 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, re- specting the country, and to take down his story in writing. This was accord ingly done, and we have what is un- doubtedly the original text, with only perhaps here and there typographical error which can be easily explained
 Among other things, Hui Shen said that the people of Fusang were former ly In ignorance of the doctrines of Buddha, but during the reign of the Chinese Emperor Ia Ming, of the Sung dynasty, or A. D. 45S, there were five bikshus, or Buddhist monks. from Cabul, who travelled there and promul- gated the knowledge of the doctrines, books, and images of Buddhism. Their labors were successful, so that they or dained monks from among the natives; and thus the customs and manners Of the people were soon reformed. He gave
  Aleutian Islands and Alaska, with the length of the route, and a description of the inhabitants. He described the country of Fusang as 10000 II, or 6,5o0 miles, to the east of Kamschatka, and also due east from China. It grows great numbers of fusang-trees, which, when they first appear above the ground are like bambo shoots, and the people eat them. Threads are spun from the skin of the plant which are woven into cloth from which clothing is made, or else it is made into enl- broidery. They also use the fibrous material of the fusang for making pa per. These and many other features seem to point unmistakably to the Mexican agave Red pears are mention ed which agree in description with the fruit of the pricklypear, while grapes ore represented as plentiful. There IS plenty of copper but no iron; and no money value is put on gold or silver. Their markets are free, and there are no fixed prices.
 The manners and customs of the peo- pie, their forms of government, their marriage and funeral ceremonies, thelr food and clothing. the method of con- structing their houses, the absence Of soldiers and military weapons, cities, and fortresses, are all particularly not ed, and agree with what is found in no countries bordering on the Pacific, eX- cept on the continent of America i'll general and in Mexico in particular, TO suppose that Hui Shen could have ln- vented all these statements, and that his story can be satisfactorily explain ed upon any other theory than that ne had actually made the journey which he so truthfully and soberly describes, is to say the least of it, absurd. Pro lessor Fryer in Harpers Maga2lne.