Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-08-21
AHEAD OF COLUMBUS.
BuopHisTs VISITED THIS CONT.
NENT IN FIFTH CENTURY.
Professor Fryer, of the Uniyersity of
California, Is Responsible for This
The Evidence is Documentary-Au.
Gent Record Still Preserved In China.

Prof. Fryer of the University of Cal.
ifornia brings to light new evidence
tending to prove that Buddhist priests
discovered America 1000 years before
the sailing of Columbus. .'The evidence
is both documentary and substantial"
says Harpers Monthly.
OF the evidence of early Chinese doc
uments, Prof. Fryer says:
"The narrative states that there was
I a Buddhist priest named Hui Shen,
originally a native Of Cabul, who, in
the year 400 A. D., during the reign of
the Emperor Yung Yuan, came from
the country of Fusang to Kingchow,
the capital of the dynasty of Isl, stu
ated on the River yang-tse. The coun-
try being in 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 LANG
dynasty. He gave presents TO the EN-
peror Of curious articles brought from
Fusang, among which wns material
looking like silk, but the threads of
which could support great weight
without breaking. This was evidently
the fiber Of the Mexican ngave. He
also presented mirror of n foot in
diameter, possessing wonderful proper
ties, and resembling those in use in
Mexico and other localities In America
ut that time. The Emperor treated him
MS 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
MS story In writing. This was accord
ingly done, and we have what is I'M
doubtedly the original text, with only
perhaps here and there typographical
error which can be easily explained.
Among other things, Hui Silen 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. ass. 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 We're successful. so that they or.
dained monks from among the natives.
/ ana thus the customs and manners of
the people were soon reformed. He
gave particulars Of the journey through
the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, with
the length of the route and descrip.
tion of the inhabitants. He described
the country of Fusang us 10000 Ii, or
$500 miles, to the east of Kamschatka,
and also due east from China. 1t grows
great numbers of fusang trees, which,
when they first appear above ground
/ are like bamboo 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 1t is made into embroidery. They
also use the fibrous material of the
fusang for making paper. These and
many other features seem to point un.
mistnkably to the Mexican agave. Red
pears are mentioned, which agree in
description with the fruit Of the prickly
pear, while grapes are represented as
plentiful. There is plenty of copper
but no iron; and no money value is pu
on gold or silver. Their markets ar,
free and there are no fixed prices.
THE manners and customs of thu
people, their forms of government
their marriage and funeral ceremonies
their food and clothing, the method Of
constructing their houses, the absenc,
of soldiers and military weapons, cite!
and fortresses, are all particular.
noted, and agree with whit is found ii
no country bordering on the Pacific
except on the continent of America ii
general, and in Mexico in particular
To suppose that Hui Shen could hav
invented all these statements, and thu
his story can be satisfactorily explain
ed upon any other theory than that h
had actually made the Journey whicl
he SO truthfully and soberly describe
/, is, to say the least of it, absurd"