| Those of us who have read about the Sung | | | | Many believe that the Muslims at this time had the |
| Document and how Chinese Muslim Sailors first | | | | ability to travel great distances and return safely with |
| discovered American in 1178 would be astounded | | | | their triangle shaped sales. They utilized innovative |
| that such history wasn't included in American text | | | | designs in their boats so that they could zig zag |
| books. Yet it is more conclusive that a traveler by | | | | against the wind. Thus they were in demand by |
| the name of Zheng discovered America 71 years | | | | major monarchs of the world. |
| before Columbus. If America was discovered by | | | | Colonel Kennon a sailing historian states, "From what I |
| Muslims then it has shown little impact on how the | | | | know of the track across from Asia to America, and |
| country developed. However it is important for | | | | from what I have seen of the Japanese and Chinese, |
| historical sake to understand what the Sung | | | | I have no doubt whatever that from very early |
| document is and when Zheng imparted on his great | | | | times they occasionally visited our American |
| expedition. | | | | shores(Kennon, 2005)." |
| The Sung Document is the work of a Chinese author | | | | And |
| Circa in the year of 1178. It describes how Muslim | | | | A Ship travelling "to the Bay of St Lawrence in |
| sailors discovered a region they termed "Mu-Lan-Pi". | | | | Siberia, would have, at the utmost, only a day's sail, |
| Mu-Lan-Pi is believe by many Muslims to be America | | | | but probably less, to reach America; and by going |
| discovered many hundreds of years before Columbus | | | | that distance farther north, her crew could see land |
| had even set out towards the West. | | | | across Behring's Straits through the whole passage |
| The second indication that Muslims discovered | | | | during the summer season, it being then free from |
| America was through Zheng He a Muslim explorer | | | | ice, with an open sea and a moderate degree of |
| would prepare for his voyages by recruiting in the | | | | cold." |
| provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang in order | | | | Thus prior significant parchments of the Sung |
| to select the best Muslim sailors. Then Zheng He | | | | documents, Piri Muhyid Din Re'is's map and the work |
| would travel to the province of Quazhou and pray at | | | | of historian Gavin Manzies all give historical and |
| the local mosque for a safe and successful journey. | | | | documented accounts of Muslim sailors and their |
| With his Muslim sailors he loaded his boats and set | | | | discovery of America. The high probability of Colonel |
| upon his expeditions. British marine historian Gavin | | | | Kennon's analysis that Chinese and Japanese sailors |
| Manzies shows in his book " 1421 - The year China | | | | could have crossed the Behring's Straits in a day's |
| discovered America" that Cheng He had actually beat | | | | time lends more credibility to the theory. Yet the |
| Columbus by 71 years. By 1513 Piri Muhyid Din Re'is's | | | | game of world history is political by nature and to |
| map showed America in its entirety. | | | | transfer the glory of Columbus to Zheng He (the |
| In the ancient days Muslims were known for the | | | | Muslim) would fly in the face of current political |
| seafaring abilities with their wide experience in travel. | | | | realities. |