The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-08-16
AHEAD OF COLUMBUS.
BUDDHIsTs VISITED THIS CONT
NENT IN FIFTH CENTURY,.
Professor Fryer, of the University of
California, Is Responsible for This
The Evidence 1s Documentary-Au.

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.s "The evidence
is both documentary and substantial"
says Harper's Monthly.
or the evidence Of early Chinese doc
uments, Prof. Fryer says:
1.-The narrative states that there was
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 a state of revolution, it
was not till the year SOP that he had
an opportunity OF going to the court of
the Emperor WI III, OF the new LANG
dynasty. He gave presents to the En-
peror of curious articles brought from
lusang, among which was material
looking like silk. but the threads Of
which could support a great weight
without breaking. This was evidently
the fiber Of the Mexican agave. He
also presented mirror Of a 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
US an envoy from Fusang, and deputed
one OF the four principal feudal lords,
named Yu Kie, to interrogate him re-
speeding the country, and to take down
his story in writing. This was accord
lngly done, and we have what is un-
douDtedly the original text, with only
perhaps here and there typographical
error which can he easily explained.
Among other things, Hui Shen said
that the people Of Fusang were former
~ 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
Dikshus, or Buddhist monks from
Cabul, who travelled there and promul-
gated the knowledge of the doctrines.
books and images Of Buddhism. Their
iaDOrs were successful. so that they or
dalned monks from among the natives,
and 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 a descriD
ton OF the inhabitants. He described
tho country Of Fusang as 10000 IL, or
G,5OO 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 tibrous material of the
fusang for making paper. These and
many other features seem to point un
mistakably to the Mexican agave. Red
pears are mentioned, which agree in
description with the fruit Of the prickly
pear, while grapes are represented rs
plentiful. There is plenty Of copper,
but no iron; and no money value is put
Oh gold or silver. Their markets are
free and there are no fixed prices.
THE manners and customs of the
people, their forms of government,
their marriage and funeral ceremonies,
their food and clothing the method of
constructing their houses, the absence
of soldiers and military weapons, cities
and fortresses. are all particularly
noted, and agree with what is found in
no country bordering ON the Pacific.
except on the continent OF America in
general, and in Mexico in particular.
TO suppose that Hui Shen could have
invented all these statements, and that
his story can be satisfactorily explain
cd upon any other theory than that he
had actually made the journey which
he so truthfully and soberly describes
is. to say the least of it, absurd
FAMOUS WESTERN PREACHER.