The Ol’ Pioneer The Magazine of the Grand Canyon Historical Society

Volume 24 : Number 4 www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Fall 2013 President’s Letter The Ol’ Pioneer The Magazine of the What exactly is “history”? Is it merely the recitation of facts, or a dry, Grand Canyon Historical Society recollection of dates and past events? Does it involve only the recording (or Volume 24 : Number 4 recovery) of information about things that happened a long time ago? Is history Fall 2013 even important in such a modern, well-connected world? I think about these things every time I mention to someone that I am a member of the Grand u Canyon Historical Society. Now and then, someone will look at me sideways as The Historical Society was established if maybe I am “off my rocker” and not yet “old enough” to concern myself with in July 1984 as a non-profit corporation such things. to develop and promote appreciation, I recall my own misconceptions about history when I remember applying understanding and education of the for membership in The Mayflower Society, a group of Mayflower descendants earlier history of the inhabitants and important events of the Grand Canyon. dedicated to cultivating an appreciation and understanding of that seminal event in American history. My reaction upon meeting my fellow members in The Ol’ Pioneer is published by the the Arizona Chapter was shock at their extreme age – I wondered if I might GRAND CANYON HISTORICAL be “too young” to be a member of the group. I soon stopped paying dues, not SOCIETY in conjunction with The wanting to associate myself with such “old folks.” Bulletin, an informational newsletter. Both publications are a benefit of That seems to be the general consensus about history in our youth oriented membership. Membership in the Society culture. I suppose the descent of history’s reputation begins in elementary is open to any person interested in the school, with teachers who are unenthusiastic about the subject themselves. historical, educational, and charitable In my case, these teachers were sports coaches in high school who got their purposes of the Society. Membership is coaching positions by agreeing to teach something easy – history. We don’t on an annual basis using the standard calendar; and dues of $25 are payable on seem to value an appreciation of history in our culture and I believe do so at the 1st of January each year, and mailed our own peril. to the GCHS Treasurer, PO Box 31405 I would like to suggest that history, especially as it relates to the Grand Flagstaff, AZ 86003-1405. The Ol’ Pioneer Canyon, is not only a topic to be reserved for people in their later years. Rather, magazine is copyrighted by the Grand history can be a vibrant and exciting subject – if only we can somehow shed Canyon Historical Society, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication the memories we hold of our initial exposure to it. I think it would be great may be reproduced or used in any form if members of this organization made an attempt to attract more members, without permission of the publisher. especially more of the younger crowd, who might be interested in the Grand Canyon stories that our journals and symposia generate. I think there are a lot of Editor: Mary Williams ‘canyonphiles’ out there who would be interested in our Society but just don’t Submit photos and stories to the editor of The Ol’ Pioneer at: info@ know about us. In the future, attracting new members may not be a hard sell. marywilliamsdesign.com or 4880 N. As the Board continues to discuss the implementation of a Strategic Plan Weatherford Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. that will carry the organization toward the 2017 Symposium, we will consider (928) 779-3377. Please submit written ideas related to a remake of this, our signature journal, The Ol’ Pioneer. Many articles and photos electronically on CD Board members believe that our relatively strong financial position allows us or via email if possible. You may mail photos or slides for scanning if needed. to expand the page count and we might even be able to add color to the pages. Some think that a name change is in order (I agree) to better reflect the vibrancy Submissions to The Bulletin should be and a more modern appreciation of Grand Canyon’s history. We welcome input sent to Karen Greig, [email protected] from our membership along these lines. All members of GCHS are a living, breathing part of Grand Canyon’s history. GCHS Officers Wayne Ranney, President Most of us have experienced or even been responsible for some aspect of the John Azar, Vice President historic fabric here. This is what our history classes in school were missing – a Amy Horn, Treasurer connection to real world experiences. If you are a member of this Society, you Tom Martin, Secretary are a witness to some part of Grand Canyon’s history, which is alive, right now, Lee Albertson, Pioneer Award Chair here. Watch this column for other news about how your Society is moving Al Richmond, Hall of Fame Award/ Scholarhip forward in developing an appreciation for Grand Canyon’s history in the 21st Erik Berg, Outings Coordinator century. Board of Directors Wayne Ranney Howard Asaki Karen Greig Beth Hickey GCHS President John Azar Erik Berg Amy Horn Ellen Brennan Tom Martin Cover: Grand Canyon National Park, a free government service Kathy Faretta Carol Naille Department of the Interior, National Park Service, [ca. 1938] Keith Green Wayne Ranney

2 : Grand Canyon Historical Society Letter to the Editor

recently received my Ol’ Pio- the road. We were quite small then as when my sis and I joined the Navy neer magazine and was truly im- we moved to Rowe Well in 1928 and WAVES, never to return to live, but pressed with its contents. Keith remained there until 1932 when we spent time there visiting our folks, Green’sI article about the Havasupai moved into the Canyon. Sherman and Grace Moore and at Indian Gardens was of great inter- We were well acquainted with the younger sister Sherma. est as well as Robert Lauzon’s article Bert Lauzon family and spent one I am now 89 and my sis 91 and we about the old school house. winter at their house where Rosa live here in the Verde Valley, but our I worked at Babbitt Bros Trading Lauzon taught school to us at the hearts hold a special place for the Co. at the Grand Canyon and was “White House.” Tiny (Lauren) Lau- Grand Canyon. [We] visit up there as well acquainted with many of the zon and his sister Muriel (Daily) were often as we can. Indians mentioned in [Keith’s] arti- classmates of ours as well as very Thanks for the great articles. They cle—the Hannas, the Sinyellas as well good friends. brought back many happy memories. as “Big Jim.” While living at Rowe We also were well acquainted with Keep up the good work. Well my sis and I used to play with Louis Schellbach and his wife Ethel the Indian girls who stayed at that since we grew up at the Grand Can- Sincerely, camp as our house was just across yon and remained there until 1944 Ethel Moore Cole

Louis Schellbach’s Log Books: Part VII by Traci Wyrick minor items such as entomological specimens. Received a partial list of verview: 1945 (May–August) determinations on the lot of insects The Canyon’s residents sent to C.F.W. Muesebeck, in charge were busy tending to their of Division of Insect Identification, OVictory Gardens. The war is finally Bureau of Entomology U.S. Dept. over and all the rationing ends. A Agriculture. Note that they have new plant species is named for Dr. retained quite a number of specimens Bryant. Wood ticks collected from and that there were a number of the North Rim are identified. Dr. specimens which they could not give Elzada Clover and Rose Collum are a definite species name. Yavapai in at work collecting specimens. A late the p.m. Took Asst. Supt. Davis turn, season cold front affects a Boy Scout he being down in the Canyon at trip to the Hopi Country. Schellbach Clear Creek. He will take my turn at catalogs a new archeological site for Yavapai on the 20th of the month. the Park. (Reminder—I have made no spelling corrections from the Monday May 7, 1945 Rose. E. Collom diary, which Schellbach wrote for Word received over the radio that his personal use only. He oftentimes Germany has signed the unconditional spells Dr. Clover’s last name with a Spotts, St. Louis, Mo. for us to make surrender terms of the Allies. This “G” and uses a “U” in Rose Collom’s exposures of G.C. views, flowers, etc. then is V-E day and concludes the war last name.) Started first roll this p.m. because of in Europe. The press had “spilled the clouds in the sky. In evening visited beans.” The Allies were going to hold Wednesday May 2, 1945 the victory garden plot assigned us out on the news, as that it could be On duty at Shop in a.m. and during my absence to see what had announced by U.S., England & Russia attended the Staff Meeting. Yavapai to be done. at the same time. This will be done in the p.m. Four rolls of Kodachrome officially tomorrow. Yavapai duty in film sent us from Jefferson National Sunday May 6, 1945 p.m. Good attendance, 82. To work Expansion Memorial. Supt. Julian C. To shop in a.m. to attend a few in evening on our Victory Garden www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 3 with Don Lou and Preston. Attended I. Haring the herbarium labels for rain. Too cold to sleep out as we again weekly rain gage chart this a.m. mosses, she had me have printed. To spent the night at Porter’s house. Staff meeting. (Miss) Dr. Clover rang Tuesday May 8, 1945 up in a.m. had collected some dragon Monday May 28th 1945 Received reprint, Calif. Academy of flies at Supai for me. Weather warm Attended weekly rain gage graph Science, 4th Series, Vol. XXV, No. 3, pp and quiet. We need rain the country change. Wood ticks collected on the 147-170, pl 17, June 1, 1944 describing is dry and flowers are delayed North Rim of Grand Canyon by me in a new species of “Astragalus” considerably. In evening at work on 1940 and by Ranger Kennedy in 1944 collected by Supt. H.C. Bryant, at garden. were determined by F.C. Bishopp of the head of Phantom Canyon in the the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Grand Canyon on December 15, Thursday May 17, 1945 Quarantine Agricultural Research 1939. Type specimen Herb. Calif. In Shop in a.m. Got out notices of Bureau, Dept. of Agriculture as Acad. Sci. No. 293940, named after the opening of Yavapai for entire “Dermacentor andersani” stiles. Dr. Bryant “Astragalus Bryantii” day, daily starting June 1st. Informed This tick is the carrier of the Rocky Barneby spec.nov. Co-type specimen by Supt. H.C. Bryant that I am to go Mountain spotted fever. Out of in G.C. Herbarium. Received Vol. into the Hopi Country, Saturday and three specimens collected, one was 12, No. 1-2 of the Utah Historical return Monday for photographing returned for the study collection and Quarterly, Jan–April 1944. Sent in roll Indian subjects and information for two retained by the Bureau. Worked of Kodachromes for Jefferson M.N.P. Park Service. Also to take care of five on entomological specimens. Miss Boy Scouts who are going with Porter Isabelle Story arrived this day and Wednesday May 9, 1945 Tinichise. Dr. Clover left for Boulder will spend several days here. She Staff meeting in the a.m. discussing Dam and Lake Mead. She collected 8 attended 3:30 p.m. lecture. At 5:30 the Park boundary and proposed vials of algae, a number of odds and p.m. we had a picnic dinner for Miss changes. Quiet day in p.m. at Yavapai. ends of entomological specimens. Story at Shoshone Point. A letter from In evening at Victory Garden. Planted Letter from Dr. Kearney re my letter. Hawbecker saying he was returning two rows of peas. High winds today. Evening call the squirrel specimens and asking for the Boy Scouts together and gave others. In evening arranging data for Tuesday May 15, 1945 final instructions on the equipment report on visit to Carlsbad Caverns. Shop this day. Relieved at Yavapai they should bring for trip into Hopi by Davis. Took express shipment for Country. Dr. Kearney to express office and got specimens off today. Prepared notice Friday May 18th 1945 to open Yavapai all day starting Shop in a.m. making April financial May 21st. However, cannot see the sales report of Grand Canyon Natural reason for opening before June 1st. History Assn. to the Treasurer. We did last year. Asked H.C.B. about Preparing ration lists and equipment this. Constructed plywood box to need for the Boy Scout’s trip into the ship study skins of squirrels to A.C. Hopi County with Porter tomorrow. Hawbecker, 228 So. H St. Madera, Met in the evening and collected all Calif. Sent Express collect to him and gear as well as provisions. prepared letter to him. Turned water Isabelle Story, GCNP photo on at the Workshop. Five women Saturday May 19, 1945 in shop this a.m. They were just Left Grand Canyon with five Grand Tuesday May 29, 1945 curious and I showed them where Canyon Boy Scouts in Porter’s light The day spent in shop. Received the the specimens and collections were. truck at 10:15 a.m. High wind and squirrel specimens from Hawbecker However, they just wanted to talk and cold. Stopped and took some pictures and checked them in. Worked on the kill time. Three left before I was thru at Coal Canyon. Gathered wood for entomological specimens and placed because the shop was cold. Kept me camp enroute and stopped for the many in the study collections. Made from my work, thought they would night at Porter’s house. Encountered application for leave next week, June wander in and look around. Nuts! sand storms. 5-6-7 to keep dental appointments in To garden in the evening preparing Prescott. Changed Yavapai notices same for planting. Cicadas continue Sunday May 20, 1945 posted at El Tovar to read open to emerge since the 12th. This may be Left in the a.m. for Keams Canyon entire day for the season. Mrs. Rose a heavy brood. and the ruins of Awotabi, returned to Collom arrived on the afternoon one of the Hopi villages in time for a bus. At workshop in evening with Wednesday May 16, 1945 Kachina dance. Very cold and storms Mrs. Collom on botanical and Shop in a.m. Packed and sent Mrs. all about us, but we encountered no entomological work until 10:30 p.m.

4 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org encountered Ranger Kennedy Sunday August 5, 1945 who said he was scheduled Day Off. To Victory Garden for for duty today. So returned tilling and harvesting peas and beans. to Shop and worked on To Workshop in evening searching entomological specimens. for Havasupai negatives asked for by the Arizona Highways magazine. Monday June 4, 1945 Found none. Heavy rain around noon Yavapai duty. Did a few almost an inch of rain fell. odd jobs at Shop before going out. Made notes for Carlsbad Friday August 10, 1945 Report. Mrs. Collom on plants Shop duty. Weather Bureau collected on North Rim. inspector attended rain gage and She brought back excellent adjusted same for season. Having specimens. Evening preparing Les. A. spray the Russian thistle for Prescott trip tomorrow about Yavapai with “Altacide” weed Louis, Ethyl & Don Lou Schellbach, circa 1939. Northern Arizona University, Cline Library, item # 2139 to keep dental appointments killer this a.m. Some Kodachromes there for next three days. bound. Attending corresp. Ordered from Edwards Bros. Inc. Ann Arbor, Wednesday May 30, 1945 Wednesday August 1, 1945 Michigan, 500 each of Bulletin No. 2 Yavapai Observation Station open Yavapai duty. Les Arnberger and 7. from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily for afternoon off. In p.m. had to give the season, starting today. Flurry special talk to a group of Indian Monday August 13, 1945 of hail at 10:00 a.m. (War time) Had School Teachers meeting. A.M. Staff Duty at Yavapai. Notified that I am a pleasant shock, was greeted at meeting. At 4:00 p.m. had to meet to drive two Uraquians, students of Yavapai with an old chum of mine Governor Osborne of Arizona, his Parks Service policy and methods to George O. Bonawit, whom I had not wife and niece, to show them about Petrified Forest National Monument seen since 1932 in New York. We went village and workshop. In evening to tomorrow. They attended Yavapai to Art School together. Brought him dinner party at El Tovar to celebrate lecture at 3:30 p.m. (Mtn. War Time). st home to the house and visited with 31 Wedding Anniversary of the In evening had the Supt. Bob Rose of Mrs. S. Rain and snow off and on in Bryants. Boulder Dam Recreational Area and flurries until 4:15 p.m. (Wartime). Not family to dinner. Then to Workshop a big group of visitors today. Held the Friday August 3, 1945 to show them Kodachromes of the talk inside at Yavapai. At Workshop At Workshop on correspondence Canyon. The two Uruquyans also until 10:30 p.m. and reports. Completed telescope attended. report to War Dept. Completed Friday June 1st 1945 prints from Francis P. Farquhar’s Tuesday August 14, 1945 Attended monthly rain gage close. negatives. Accessioned three books Left Grand Canyon for Pet. Forest Found dead poor-will on seat of received for the Ref. Library, Weed N.M. at 7:45 a.m. in govt. car with car, returned by Cook and found by Control, applied Entomology and the above two gentlemen. Lunch at Bryant on hwy on way to North Rim. Speaker’s Notebook. Dinner at Rowe Winslow. Arrived Pet. Forest N.M. Have no time to prepare it, also have Well. At Workshop in evening and at 3:00 p.m. and had Supt. Branch sufficient specimens in collection. then to dark room with Les Arnberger conduct them around. They to leave Changed record sheets. Yavapai duty. and Don MacLean. on evening bus for Albuquerque Louis Caywood, from the Region III from the Painted Desert Station. Office around this evening to check Dinner with the Branches and left and report in the Tusayan Ruin about 8 p.m. Outside of Holbrook, stabilization ruin. Had him to dinner Park Naturalist Keller contacted me. in evening and took him through the Over the radio news was received Workshop. that Japan had surrendered and the towns went wild. Could not Sunday June 3, 1945 get accommodations in Holbrook, Day Off. But had to substitute for Winslow or Flagstaff so continued on Bryant who is on the North Rim. So to Williams, arriving there at 1:15 a.m. th no day off and on duty at Yavapai. Wed. Aug. 15 , stopped at Harvey Attended some specimens collected Hotel. Met out Chief clerk, L.G. there. at Supai by Dr. Glover. At Yavapai Francis Farquhar

www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 5 Wednesday August 15, 1945 to collect plant specimens to Kenneth Story was an accomplished writer To day holiday declared by the Lundie, student of Pomona College and a strong voice for the National President for Gov’t employees. Claremont, Calif. As recommended Park Service. She began working All stores in Williams closed. Gas by Dr. Lyman Benson. for the NPS in 1916, becoming rationing off and filling stations sold Horace Albright’s secretary in 1917 out by 9:30 a.m. Left Williams about Sunday August 26, 1945 (when Stephen Mather took ill). 10:20 a.m. for Grand Canyon arriving Day Off. At work on preparing She collaborated with Albright on there 12:15 p.m. Yavapai Station the 1947 F.Y. budget justifications. At the NPS annual reports from 1917- closed for today and tomorrow shop on cleaning pottery specimens. 1919. She is credited as one of the because of V-J Day. To Victory Garden in p.m. digging a first advocates for National Park mess of potatoes and picking some magazines. Saturday August 18, 1945 peas and beans. Carrots small and Don MacLean--? Attended bank deposit on July ground hard. Porter Tinichise--? book sales of the Naturalist Dept. Cook--? and some correspondence. Many Monday August 27, 1945 Francis P. Farquhar — (1887-1974) restrictions on food, commodities etc. Attended weekly rain gage and American mountaineer and have been lifted. In p.m. afternoon handed in Budget estimates. Starting environmentalist. He was the off, but took four scenic views to test tomorrow Aug. 28, two lectures will author of several books, probably the repaired lens on 5X7 camera. Jap be presented at Yavapai, one at 10:30 best known for his book “History envoys enroute to Manila. Evening to a.m. and the other 3:30 p.m. Received of the Sierra Nevada” 1946. “movie” with family. my official Efficiency Rating for the Supt. Branch--? Superintendant of period April 1, 1944 to March 31, Petrified Forest? Wednesday August 22, 1945 1945 and rated “Excellent”. In p.m. Keller-- Park Naturalist (which Park?) A.M. to staff meeting. P.M. Yavapai Yavapai duty. Evening at Shop on Gaustead—? possible correct spelling duty. Dr. Ernie Haury, Prof. of removing alkali from pot sherds “Gaustad”? Anthropology, Univ. of Arizona, before restoring pottery. William Carr—he also co-founded Tucson, and family arrived. Attended and was first director of the Arizona Yavapai lecture. Evening as guests Tuesday Aug. 28, 1945 Sonora Desert Museum. In 1949 he of the Naturalists and entertained Les Arnberger and Don Lou go and fellow naturalist Arthur Pack, in seeing Park Kodachromes. down into the Canyon until Thursday. founded the Ghost Ranch Museum Archaeological site found by Brown They will camp at the Rock House at Abiquiu N.M. & Gaustead near Powder Magazine. and perhaps take one or two meals at Dr. Lyman Benson—author of “The Two food bowls on typical of Verdi Phantom Ranch. Les to secure some Cacti of Arizona” Valley culture and one of the Flagstaff specimens of the Holland swallowtail region. (Turned in by H.C.B. 8/23/45) butterfly. Yavapai duty for me. ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS: None at this time Thursday August 23, 1945 NAMES NOT PREVIOUSLY Yavapai duty. Back to Workshop PUBLISHED: (I have excluded names Look for more of 1945 in a future to pack and send via Haury, to where Schellbach identifies them in issue of The Ol’ Pioneer. McKee, lithologic specimens from the above entries.) Names with “?” Hermit Shale. H.C.B. wants me to marks I could not identify. If any visit archaeological site this p.m. and readers can identify, please contact take some photographs if possible. the Editor or myself at (tntwyrick@ William Carr of Bear Mountain gmail.com). fame in New York and the Amer. Mrs. Rose Collom — (1870–1956) Museum of Natural History in, and Collom was Grand Canyon interviewed H.C.B and myself. National Park’s first paid botanist from 1939 until 1954. During her Friday August 24, 1945 tenure at the Grand Canyon, she With Carr in a.m. and then out collected more than 800 plant to make surface collecting and to specimens. She also collected and catalog the new archaeological site. contributed hundreds of plant Gave it the number of G.C.-480. specimens to the U.S. National Took four 5X7 and one Kodachrome Herbarium and other institutions of same. Collected pottery and to further the study of Arizona’s brought it in. Raining at 3 p.m. (2 flora. p.m. M.S.T.) shower. Issued a permit Miss Isabelle Story—(1888-1970)

6 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Panda Tracks in the Grand Canyon: Tales of the Ancient Chinese

by Don Lago trying to figure out the millennia-deep de Guignes took some vague tales in trove of Chinese literature. One of the Chinese literature and tried to match he ancient Egyptians aren’t first European scholars of Chinese them with some vague descriptions the only ancient peoples who literature and history was Joseph de of America, there weren’t too many have generated a modern myth Guignes, who did translations for facts to stand in his way. Among involvingT the Grand Canyon (see the the French Royal Library and whose those impressed by the Fusang idea Ol’ Pioneer, Summer 2009 and Winter accomplishments got him admitted was Alexander von Humboldt, who 2012). There is a similar body of lore to the British Royal Society in 1752. listed the similarities between the about the ancient Chinese and the In 1761 de Guignes published a book astrological lore of Asia and Central canyon. that revealed an official Chinese America. In 1913, four years after the government record, from the year 499 In spite of his scholarly Phoenix Gazette published the hoax AD, describing how a Buddhist monk accomplishments, de Guignes was article proclaiming that the ancient named Hui Shen (also spelled Hwui prone to making over-enthusiastic Egyptians left tombs and mummies Shan) had traveled to a land far east connections. He theorized that in the Grand Canyon, a book was of China. Hui Shen called this land the Chinese people were a colony published that declared that ancient Fusang for a tree that grew there. De and a racial offshoot of the ancient Chinese texts contained elaborate Guignes claimed that Fusang could Egyptians, and that there was knowledge of the Grand Canyon. only be America. De Guignes’s book a strong resemblance between Alexander McAllan’s Ancient Chinese caused a sensation in Europe and Egyptian hieroglyphics and ancient Account of the Grand Canyon was an launched a vigorous debate among Chinese characters. He asserted that eccentric book, even by the relaxed leading scholars, a debate that went the hordes of barbarians who had standards of the literature of the on for more than a century. sacked the Roman Empire were the esoteric. It’s not likely that McAllan, The debate over Fusang derived a same hordes that had bedeviled who lived in Brooklyn, was inspired lot of its initial energy because it took China. In his book on Fusang, de by the Phoenix Gazette, which had place in a vacuum of geographical and Guignes published elaborate maps little readership outside of Arizona. anthropological knowledge about showing where Hui Shen and four McAllan was already immersed America. De Guignes’s book was fellow Buddhist monks had reached in his research: in 1910 he had published seven years before Captain Alaska, California, and especially published another book, America’s Cook’s first Pacific Ocean voyage, Mexico. De Guignes asserted that Place in Mythology, claiming that and forty years before the Lewis and the Buddhist monks had impressed ancient Asian texts held accounts Clark expedition. The French had a the spirit of Buddhism upon the of the American West, mainly the great deal of curiosity about America, residents of Mexico, which accounts Yellowstone region, though McAllan and not just because they had claimed for why the Aztecs were so much included some mentions of the upper the center of the North American more polite, gentle, and civilized Colorado River. continent as their territory. French than other American societies. Joseph Alexander McAllan’s Grand intellectuals were eagerly trying Needham, the twentieth-century Canyon book was the first of three to make sense of the flood of new China scholar, summarized the books that claimed that the ancient knowledge about world geography, situation in his encyclopedic Science Chinese knew about the Grand nature, humans, and human and Civilisation [sic] in China: “The Canyon. These three books were societies. Big misconceptions were alleged discovery of the American inspired by a long intellectual easy to make: under the influence of continent by Buddhist monks from tradition of claims that the Chinese the naturalist Buffon, the French had China in the 5th century is one of had discovered America long before decided that America was an under- those youthful indiscretions at which Columbus. This tradition had been evolved continent where the animals, modern sinology is accustomed to going strong for 150 years when humans, and civilizations were far blush. As usual, Joseph de Guignes McAllan finally applied it to the inferior to those of Europe. Only the was the enfant terrible…” 1 Grand Canyon. Spanish had made significant contact In 1761 very few Europeans had This tradition began in France in with the Pacific coast and the societies heard about the Grand Canyon, 1761, at a time when Europeans were of Central America, but their reports but de Guignes planted the still discovering, translating, and were full of vagueness. When Joseph Fusang debate into the canyon’s www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 7 neighborhood. De Guignes decided copper but no iron, and while it held mentions of Fusang, indicating that the most civilized North gold and silver, the native people had that the idea existed well before the American Indians were the tribes on no interest in them. The native people Hui Shen account, and the Classic the northern California coast and the had horses and oxen and raised contained several chapters devoted Puebloan tribes of the Southwest. deer for meat and milk. The native to lands beyond the seas. One entry The California tribes were civilized people were very civilized: they had in particular would be claimed to be because they lived in the area closest no armies, no war, no walled cities about the Grand Canyon: to China, and that’s where the Chinese or fortifications. Fusang had so little Beyond the East Sea is the Big first landed and had their greatest crime that they needed only two jails Chasm. It is the country of the influence. De Guignes doesn’t offer in the entire land. Fusang had no great god Young Brightsky. Young any explanation of how the Chinese taxes. It was ruled by an emperor, Brightsky nurtured the great god could have influenced the Puebloans, who wore different colored clothes in Fond Care when he was a child. but perhaps he thought the Puebloans different years. When a young man Here it was that Fond Care threw lived near the coast: wanted to marry he had to build a away his five-stringed lute and ...of all the American tribes, the cabin beside the house of his beloved his twenty-five-stringed lute. most civilized are situated near and live there for one year, waiting Mount Sweet is here. The River the coast which faces China. In to see if she would accept or refuse Sweet rises on it and flows on to the region of New Mexico there him. When people died, they were create Sweet Deeps.3 are found tribes that have houses cremated. Fusang had no religion of several stories, with halls, until the Buddhist monks arrived Both the Classic and the Hui chambers, and bath-rooms. They and converted Fusang to Buddhism. Shen account of Fusang inspired are clothed in robes of cotton and About 1,000 Chinese miles (about 350 many subsequent Chinese poets of skin; but what is most unusual English miles) east of Fusang was a and writers, who spun many more among savages is, that they have Kingdom of Women, with no men. details and versions, including many leather shoes and boots. Each The women were entirely covered fantastic tales about mulberry trees a village has its public criers, who with hair. When the women wished thousand feet tall and silk worms six announce the orders of the king, to become pregnant they immersed feet long. and idols and temples are seen themselves in a special river. The Along with the Classic and the everywhere.2 women had no breasts, but used tufts Hui Shen account, one other major of hair on the back of the neck to Chinese legend got mixed into claims When de Guignes says “New suckle a baby. about the Grand Canyon. The story Mexico,” he isn’t of course meaning In addition to Hui Shen’s account, of the god Yi the Archer told of how the far-future U. S. state, but the whole another old Chinese text would when ten suns rose into the sky one southwestern region north of Mexico. play a central role in theories about morning, Yi shot down nine of them, De Guignes cites some sources who the Chinese and the Grand Canyon. saving the world from burning up. believe that the Puebloans were a The Classic of Mountains and Seas When de Guignes wrote in 1761, remnant of Mexican civilization is a compilation of Chinese fables, who could say that ancient America who fled north after the arrival of compiled through 500 years starting didn’t have horses, utopian societies, the Spanish conquistadors, but de in the third century BC. It describes and Buddhists? Europeans long had Guignes prefers the idea that the hundreds of mountains and the rivers been tempted to project utopian Puebloans were the progenitors of flowing from them, and the gods and wishes onto Native Americans, and Mexican civilization. The Puebloan stories associated with them. The now the Chinese were encouraging tribes would play a large role in Classic contains a solid foundation this impulse. future claims that the Chinese knew of natural history, with geology and As more knowledge of China and about the Grand Canyon. plants and wildlife that are true to the Americas emerged, more scholars Hui Shen’s account of Fusang, China. But its mountains and rivers criticized de Guignes for his dubious which was fairly short, offered lots of have mythopoetic names, and this claims. Maybe Fusang wasn’t America specific details, but lots of vagueness. has tempted Chinese scholars into at all. How could the ancient Chinese Hui Shen reported that Fusang was a long, sprawling, dispute-ridden have counted the miles to America, about 20,000 Chinese miles to the effort to identify these places with or navigated so far? Maybe Fusang east of China, or about 7,000 English real places in China. Now European was Japan, or somewhere nearby, and miles. The land was thick with and American scholars joined this maybe those natives were really the Fusang trees, a mulberry tree that old game, but trying to match the Japanese or the Ainu tribe. Maybe the had pear-like fruit; wood that made descriptions in the Classic with sites whole thing was just a fable, like the good houses; and bark that the native in America. The Classic invited silk worms six feet long. people turned into clothing and such an effort, for—unknown to In 1831 the distinguished scholar paper for writing. Fusang had lots of de Guignes—it contained some Julius Heinrich von Klaproth of

8 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Prussia weighted in with a major China and collected 10,000 Chinese ancient Mexico, but that Hui Shen attack on de Guignes, refuting books. In 1841, only a few years showed knowledge of other parts him point by point, at length. It before Leland’s arrival in Munich, of the Americas, including the was Klaproth who introduced The Neumann had published a German American Southwest. Mexico had Classic of Mountains and Seas into the translation of Hui Shen’s story of “images resembling the ordinary debate, but he did so to point out his trip to Fusang. Neumann added Buddha,”5 and “The pyramidic- the abundant fantasies in Chinese his own commentary, which was not symbolic form of many of the Mexican literature. Many scholars felt that only sympathetic to de Guignes’s monuments appears, indeed, to have Klaproth had ended the debate, but a interpretation, but pushed it further. a resemblance with the religious few scholars remained true believers, Professor Neumann drafted Leland edifices of the Buddhists for places and Joseph Needham would choose a to make an English translation of this of interment.”6 “But if Buddhism much later date at which the debate work. ever flourished in Central America, it was over: “…by the time of the First When Leland finished college he certainly was not the pure religion… World War…the Fu-Sang thesis was returned to America and began a but a new religion, built upon its stone dead.”4 journalism career that lasted twenty foundations.”7 Leland agreed with de But the idea had already taken years. In 1850, soon after returning Guignes that “…at one time certainly, on a new life among Americans, home, Leland placed Neumann’s the most civilized tribes in North who would apply it in new ways, Hui Shen account in the New York America were those nearest China.”8 including to the Grand Canyon. Knickerbocker Magazine. A dozen The Sioux language had Asian roots. Initially, it seemed that only years later Leland placed a longer Leland almost quoted Neumann in Europeans were interested in hearing version, with his own commentary, trying to evade one difficulty: “We about the Chinese discovery of in a magazine he edited, Continental may assume that the Fusang-tree America. Americans might be willing Magazine. These articles helped stir was formerly found in America, and to hear that Columbus had been up further newspaper stories. In 1869 afterwards, through neglect, became beaten by the Vikings or the Welsh two American ministers, who had extinct…It is, however, much more or the Irish, but not the Chinese. The done missionary work in Asia, each probable that the traveler described Chinese were a problem. With the published an article agreeing with the a plant hitherto unknown to him, start of the California gold rush, the Fusang idea. That same year Leland which supplies as many wants in Chinese were invading the western returned to Europe, settled in London, Mexico as the original Fusang is said United States, where they had no and began a career as a writer. Leland to do in Eastern Asia—I mean the right to be. America had been set was fascinated by European folklore great American aloe.”9 aside for the manifest destiny of and paganism and he wrote twenty Leland asserted that American the white race, not inferior Asians. books about them, most notably explorations of the Southwest offered Americans enacted numerous laws to Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches, a “not only indubitable proof of the restrict Chinese rights and activities study of Italian witchcraft, which former highly-advanced civilization and immigration. There wasn’t became a major resource for students of New Mexico, but remarkable much of an audience for claims that of paganism. One of Leland’s first indications of apparent affinity the Chinese were a brilliant people books, published in 1875, was a with Chinese culture.”10 And their who, more than a thousand years fuller treatment of Neumann’s ideas: differences also proved Hui Shen’s before Plymouth Rock, were building Fusang: The Discovery of America by account: “The manner in which mighty ships and navigating the Chinese Buddhist Monks in the Fifth marriage was contracted in Fusang, Pacific and exploring and civilizing Century. Leland incorporated much according to his description, is not at America. of Neumann’s commentary into all Chinese—I doubt if it be Asiatic— It’s not surprising, then, that the his book, and then he added more but it exists in more than one North Fusang idea was introduced to of his own. Leland brought to the American tribe, and something very America by an American intellectual subject a wider and more up-to-date like it was observed by a recent who encountered the idea in Europe. knowledge of American geography traveler in New Mexico.”11 Leland Charles Godfrey Leland was born and history than had European introduced another Chinese text in Philadelphia in 1824 and studied scholars. Leland suggested many that described how in the year 607 languages, literature, and philosophy matches between the account of AD a ship was blown off course at Princeton, then at the Sorbonne Hui Shen and American realities, and landed on an unknown island, in Paris and at Heidelberg and the including southwestern places and where the natives ate small beans University of Munich in Germany. tribes, though he didn’t mention the and built circular-shaped earthen At Munich Leland studied with Grand Canyon. houses. The women wore dresses Carl Friedrich Neumann, Professor Following de Guignes and made of cloth, and the men were of Oriental Languages and History. Neumann, Leland said that Hui said to have faces and voices like Neumann had spent two years in Shen’s account referred mainly to dogs. This “description applies with www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 9 marvelous exactness to those New well known to the speaker and his and Seas. He also translated various Mexican Indians… The enormous hearers, but whose few peculiarities works by other Chinese authors, consumption of beans (frijoles), the were otherwise worth recording.”14 which he wove into his texts of the cloth (which was very beautifully Or worse: “Fu-sang and Päng-lai are Hui Shen story and the Classic. made by the Pueblo-Aztecs, from still used among the Chinese for It was Vining who first introduced early ages), and especially the circular fairy land, and are referred to by the Grand Canyon into the Fusang walls of earth, all identify these the common people very much as debate. It’s not surprising that the Indians with those of New Mexico. the Garden of the Hesperides and canyon didn’t appear earlier. In These people…had a curious habit Atlantis were among the ancient the same year—1869—that Charles of howling and roaring terribly to Greeks.”15 Godfrey Leland had left America express respect and admiration, and Leland’s book inspired far more for his writing career in Europe, this may account for the voices like enthusiasm in Edward Payson John Wesley Powell was launching dogs spoken of by the Chinese.”12 The Vining, who worked far outside of his Colorado River expedition, and Puebloan tribes probably used bison academia. In the 1870s Vining was the Grand Canyon was still terra as draft animals, which Hui Shen living in Omaha, Nebraska, where he incognita. mistook for oxen. Even Hui Shen’s was the general freight manager for Vining was going through the Hui report of a Kingdom of Women, the Union Pacific Railroad. Like other Shen account line by line and came which must have been located in Gilded Age railroads, the Union to a line that said that north of the Utah, had plausible explanations in Pacific was despised for its predatory Kingdom of Women was a “black southwestern realities. shipping rates, and Vining himself gorge.” Vining commented: “North Leland tried to maintain a tone seems to have been a well-loathed of Mexico is found the Cañon of the of caution and scholarship, but his villain. But somewhere, perhaps from Colorado River, the most wonderful enthusiasm for the idea often took his teacher-father, Vining had also chasm in the world, with walls control. Joseph Needham reported picked up a bookish personality. so steep, high, and close together, that when he took Leland’s book off In 1881 Vining got a major that, as I once heard General Crook the shelf at the Cambridge University publisher to publish his The Mystery express it, ‘it is necessary to lie down Library around 1960, many of the of Hamlet, in which Vining proposed upon one’s back in order to see the pages were still uncut, meaning that that Hamlet was really a woman, sky.’ Into much of this deep gorge no one there had read the book for pretending to be a man so as to no ray of sunshine ever falls, and it about eighty-five years. preserve his family’s claim to the well deserves the name of the ‘Dark Yet if the Fusang idea was dropping Danish crown. Hamlet’s weak and Cañon.’”16 out of the scholarly world, Leland’s indecisive actions were obviously Vining had a good chance to hear book stirred up a lot of interest in the not those of a man; his evasions and General Crook’s accounts of his idea in America. stratagems were just like a woman. western adventures, for Crook’s A few years after its publication, Vining’s theory impressed America’s home, like Vining’s, was in Omaha. Leland’s book drew a response from leading Shakespearean actor, Edwin It’s even possible that Vining heard Samuel Wells Williams, who had Booth, the brother of John Wilkes about the Grand Canyon from John served as interpreter for Admiral Booth. In 1921 Vining’s book was the Wesley Powell himself, for Powell Perry when Perry landed in Japan in basis for the German silent movie used the Union Pacific Railroad to 1853, and who in 1877 became Yale’s Hamlet, starring the Danish actress ship west his boats and himself. first professor of Chinese Language Asta Nielsen. It may have been this Yet when Vining came to the and Literature. In his Notices of Fusang movie that brought Vining’s book to mention in The Classic of Mountains Williams offered a fresh translation the attention of James Joyce, for when and Seas of the “Great Cañon of the text that included Hui Shen’s Joyce published Ulysses the next year, beyond the Eastern Sea,” he wasn’t account. Williams was not impressed it included a discussion of Vining’s determined to declare this to be the by the Fusang idea: “Some have book. Grand Canyon. He suggested that combined many scattered facts so as During the same years Vining was the geographical descriptions in the to uphold their crude fancies; while turning Hamlet into a woman, Vining Classic referred to places in Asia. others have formed a theory, and was laboring on an 800-page book Vining did make plenty of other then hunted over the continent for that proved that Fusang was America: claims about Chinese imprints on facts to prove it.”13 Williams said that An Inglorious Columbus, published America, especially Mexico. He Hui Shen’s account didn’t have the in 1885. Vining’s book included a claimed that Buddha was honored in ring of the epochal announcement detailed comparison between eight many Mexican place-names, and that of the discovery of a new continent: different translations of the Hui the name Guatemala meant “the place “…this account reads more like the Shen story, including Vining’s own of Gautama.” He found similarities description of a land having many translation. Vining also translated between Buddhist temples and things in common with countries portions of The Classic of Mountains Mexican pyramids, pyramids that

10 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org even included images of elephants continent. On the contrary he claiming that the Colorado River has and a meditating Buddha. Mexican holds that a superior, intelligent the same source as the Yellowstone legends of Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan tribe (about 20,000 in all, men, and the Missouri rivers: “…there were really garbled versions of the women, and children) of mound- are subterranean currents of boiling coming of Hui Shen, who did indeed builders succeeded in escaping water which doubtless connect the bring civilization to Mexico, though from the Valleys of the Ohio and Colorado with steaming founts of the the Aztecs had lapsed. The report of the Mississippi, and even from Yellowstone.”20 And at South Pass, rounded, earthen homes referred to America itself, across into Asia— Wyoming, on the continental divide, Puebloan kivas. An odoriferous salt- where an extraordinary destiny some headwaters of the Colorado plant eaten in Fusang is the sage- awaited them. The fugitive host and the Platte-Missouri are pretty brush: “...in the uplands of the valley was led by a princess, born in close together. of the Colorado River, in Arizona, Mexico, and also by her son, born McAllan says that the mouth of most of the plants...are smeared with in Arizona.18 the Colorado River is described in an a resinous varnish, which gives out a Indian text that refers to the Sindhu pleasant, stimulating aroma, noticed McAllan offers no further River flowing to a southwestern sea. by nearly all desert travelers.”17 All explanation of this theory, but in his The word sindhu: of the fantastic-sounding elements Grand Canyon book he goes into it in …is also applied to a sea-river. of the Hui Shen story resulted from more detail. The prince who led this Undoubtedly the Colorado, the faulty copying of scribes, or had tribe to China had, as a baby, lived widening out gradually until it logical explanations. The six-foot within the Grand Canyon. McAllan becomes a wedge-shaped gulf, is silk worms were really agave plants, states that this tribe took with them a sea-river and deserving of the which produced threads as strong as to Asia strong memories of America’s title “sindhu.” It is impossible silk. The rabbits “as large as horses” great landscapes, which showed to tell where the river ends were jackrabbits. The Kingdom of up in Asian literature, and even and the sea begins. The Gulf of Women was just an insult against the helped to inspire Asia’s religions. California—the continuation of manliness of some enemy tribe; or it McAllan concludes America’s Place the Colorado—is shaped like an recalled a raid when all the men were in Mythology: “To an extraordinary enormous river, a “sea-river.” away from a village and the women degree the religious systems of The entire arrangement is quite were the only defenders; or it referred the Orient are based upon our unlike the condition presented at, to Mexican monkeys, which were continent…”19 say, the mouth of the Mississippi. hairy and dog-faced and carried their McAllan devotes most of America’s Truly the Colorado is a sindhu or young on their backs. Place in Mythology to matching sea-river.21 Vining’s book would be the primary landscape descriptions in Asian source for the three later authors who texts with American landscapes. Toward the end of the 113-page-long made larger claims about the Grand Sometimes he berates scholars for America’s Place in Mythology McAllan Canyon. misidentifying these landscapes as says that this subject required much Alexander McAllan is a mystery being in Asia, and he even berates more exploration but that he “is, man who has left little trace in the original texts for garbling their however, so advanced in years that biographical sources. We know only descriptions of American landscapes. it is improbable anything further will that he was sixty-three years old and At the center of McAllan’s case appear from his pen.”22 Yet it seems living in Brooklyn when in 1910 he is a lake called Anavatapta, which that McAllan then became enthralled published his first book, America’s he insists is Lake Yellowstone. He by the Grand Canyon connection. Place in Mythology: Disclosing the claims many matches between Three years later he self-published Nature of Hindoo and Buddhist Beliefs. then, and between other Asian a smaller book about it, really a McAllan’s books are sloppily written, and American landscapes. Asian pamphlet, forty-four pages long. and the connections he makes texts report stone trees—Arizona’s McAllan drew upon Vining’s book between Chinese texts and American Petrified Forest. Asian texts report a and compared Chinese texts with realities are also sloppy. mountaintop Garden of the Gods— descriptions of the Grand Canyon McAllan begins America’s Place the one at Colorado Springs. Asian that he found in the works of authors in Mythology by announcing that texts mentioned a land called Mo- like John Wesley Powell, Frederick previous books on Fusang have kie—a reference to the Moki, or Hopi, Dellenbaugh, and George Wharton gotten it all backwards: Indians. And so on. James. The present writer…does McAllan brings in the Colorado McAllan insists that the “Great not for a moment imagine that River in connection with Lake Canyon” in the Classic of Mountains Asiatic priests visited America Anavatapta having four major rivers and Seas is the Grand Canyon: “It is the and then returned to China or flowing from it. McAllan has to do greatest and grandest on the planet.”23 India—with descriptions of our some conjuring to get away with In Vining’s blending of the original www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 11 Classic with subsequent Chinese was conquered by the savages who McAllan took out an ad for his texts, the stream in the canyon flows lived there now. Another theory Grand Canyon book in the leading to “a charming gulf,” which McAllan said that the mound builders had American archaeology journal of says must be the Colorado River migrated to the Southwest, where the time, American Antiquarian and flowing to the Gulf of California. The they became the Puebloan tribes. Oriental Journal. The book sold for “River Sweet” in the Classic must McAllan’s version is that the Grand twenty-five cents. The next year, the be Wyoming’s Sweetwater River, Canyon residents were remnants of American Antiquarian and Oriental which arises at South Pass, near one the Toltecs, who had built a superior Journal published a review of both of source of the Green-Colorado River. civilization in Mexico but who had McAllan’s books—a favorable review. The Classic’s claim that the Colorado been driven out. In Arizona the There was no byline on the review, River is bottomless must refer to Toltecs built impressive structures but very likely it was written by the Grand Lake, the official source of the like Montezuma’s Castle, but once journal’s editor, J. O. Kinnaman, who Colorado River; Grand Lake was said again they were besieged by more five years later published similar to be bottomless. Then again, maybe savage tribes, which is why they comments about McAllan’s books in the bottomless place is Middle Park were hiding in the Grand Canyon. The Theosophical Path. Kinnaman had in Colorado, where the Colorado From Arizona the Toltecs migrated solid scholarly credentials, having River is surrounded by mountains. to the Midwest, where they became studied archaeology at the University McAllan often tries to summon the mound builders. Then they were of Chicago and the University of comparisons between ancient and forced to migrate to Asia, where they Rome, but he also entertained some modern reactions: “So impressed helped create Chinese civilization, unorthodox theories. Yet even were the ancients with the beauty and and where their undying memories Kinnaman had to admit: grandeur of this region that they… of the Grand Canyon showed up in This little book is one of the declared that here was the Canyon Chinese literature. Arizona tribes most peculiar that has come from of Almighty God. And those who preserved memories of the Grand any press to date. We usually enter it today, come reeling back from Canyon’s great baby king, who consider that the American its portals,—declaring that…it is the became a god in their legends. continents were discovered by Grand Canyon of Almighty God.”24 The ancient residents of the Grand Columbus, but Mr. McAllan McAllan devotes a lot of time to Canyon would have needed houses, turns to Asiatic literature to the story of the baby suckled in the and McAllan cites archaeology establish the America’s place in Grand Canyon, who leaves his lute reports that the canyon does indeed the ancient world…Following and lyre there. This was no god but contain ruins. Those governing on this pamphlet is its sequel entitled a great king. McAllan admits it is behalf of the baby king might have “Ancient Chinese Account of the silly to imagine a baby playing a written proclamations on the canyon Grand Canyon, or Course of the lute or lyre, so he says this was just walls, and sure enough, McAllan Colorado,” the greater portion of a metaphor for the musical sounds reports hieroglyphics on canyon which is devoted to the account of of the canyon’s springs and streams. walls: “Not painted on the cliffs, but the cave dwellings in the Grand He quotes John Wesley Powell about cut into the stone! Beyond the reach or Canyon and the development the canyon’s musical sounds, which malice of savage tribes, they doubtless of the theory of the flight of the inspired Powell to name one place furnished directions to friendly clans, mother of Mu or Mo or Mok… Music Temple. In the type of couplet- telling where certain companies had Mr. McAllan substantially makes summary McAllan uses dozens of moved, and so forth.”26 Chinese texts other interesting and unique times in the book, he concludes: mentioned cave dwellings in the discoveries, which to thoroughly “Lutes and lyres are there, say the canyon, and the Grand Canyon had understand necessitates not a Ancients. A Temple of Music is there, those too. reading but a careful study of his say the Moderns.”25 McAllan runs through a list of works. No library of American McAllan ties the canyon’s baby king Chinese descriptions and finds in the Archaeology is complete without to the mystery of the mound builders. Grand Canyon the matching colorful the works of Mr. McAllan.28 As Euro-Americans had pioneered cliffs, storms, deserts, beauty, and the Ohio and Mississippi river the sindhu of the Gulf of California. In his Theosophical Path article, valleys they encountered elaborate He concludes the book—seemingly discussing the mound builders of earthworks. There was a genuine forgetting that he had explained the Ohio, Kinnaman endorsed McAllan’s mystery about them, but also a racist baby’s lute as a poetic metaphor— theories: reluctance to admit that Midwestern by saying: “Have we not found The writer, in full accord with Indians had once built an elaborate everything except perhaps the Mr. Alexander McAllan of New civilization. Euro-Americans came abandoned imperial lute? And even York City, is not going to contend up with the theory that the mound it may yet be recovered. Let it be dug that any Chinese or Hindu builders were a superior race that for at the Cliff of the Harp.”27 priest or traveler ever visited

12 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org America in the dim past ages, ink is better than the most retentive Mertz repeats many of Vining’s and then returning home wrote memory.” Mertz couldn’t find a identifications of Chinese texts with an account of his journeys; but publisher for her book, so she self- American realities, and she adds rather that a tribe, who aftwards published it, in 1953. In 1972 Pale Ink more of her own. The dog-faced became what we know as Mound was resurrected by Swallow Press, men were just katchina masks. The Builders of the Mississippi valley, a respected literary and American- Kingdom of Women was just a being driven from their homes history press that was trying to fend Native American matriarchal tribe. in Mexico, found their way to off bankruptcy by publishing some The baby suckled from the hair on Arizona, the Grand Canyon… potboilers. The huge success of Erich the back of a woman’s neck was just a The Chinese account describes von Danikan’s Chariots of the Gods?, garbled account of a papoose, where the Grand Canyon with such which offered archaeological proof the baby was sucking on a ribbon. degree of accuracy that a modern that extraterrestrials had visited The “black gorge” to the north of traveler, using the account as a Earth, had created a huge audience the Kingdom of Women wasn’t the guide book, could easily find for alternative archaeology, so Grand Canyon, but the Black Canyon his way about and identify the Swallow Press was soon able to sell of the Gunnison. different spots of beauty and Pale Ink to Ballantine Books for a Mertz first mentions the Grand interest.29 mass-market paperback. Ballantine Canyon when trying to explain the retitled it Gods from the Far East and Kingdom of Women. One Chinese text Yet by this time the myths about gave it a cover with the same bold said that in the Kingdom of Women the mound builders were nearly typeface as Chariots of the Gods? the women took snakes for husbands. dead. McAllan’s books soon fell into There aren’t any aliens in Pale Ink, Mertz cited the Hopi legend of Tiyo, obscurity. but there are plenty of bold claims, who rode down the Colorado River Forty years later the Chinese including the claim that Hui Shen through the Grand Canyon and met returned to the Grand Canyon, but had transformed the Americas: the Snake people; the Snake People in the safer guise of the traveling He introduced there a new became a central part of Hopi life Buddhist priest Hui Shen. Yet over culture and raised it, single- and gave rise to the Snake Clan and the 200 years since Hui Shen was first handed, to such a high degree the Snake Dance. The Hopis were debated by Europe’s leading scholars, that the world today still stands matriarchal, and their women could Hui Shen continued falling into less in amazement of it—even the be said to marry snakes. skilled and careful hands. calendar that he taught was more Mertz quotes Vining’s translation Henriette Mertz was a Chicago perfect than is our own. Perhaps of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, attorney, specializing in international no other in the world’s history which often mentions a place where patent law, with a passion for has ever done so much for so the sun is born. Mertz is especially exploring Latin America; she once many people in such varied impressed by the legend of Yi the descended the Amazon River by fields of activity and yet remains archer, who shot nine of ten suns balsa raft and dugout canoe. She also unknown… out of the sky; Mertz takes this as a had a passion for the idea that ancient Converting an entire country poetic metaphor of how the Grand tales of exploration had actually as he did, should rank him Canyon got its brilliant colors. She occurred in America. She wrote three with the world’s great religious summarizes the Grand Canyon’s role: books about her ideas. The Wine Dark teachers. In addition to a better Nature’s most magnificent Sea discussed classic Greek tales. life, he brought advanced display of her handiwork—the Odysseus had actually sailed past methods of agriculture; of Great Luminous Canyon with Gibraltar and across the Atlantic, weaving and ceramics; he taught the little stream flowing in a and his encounter with Scylla and astronomy and the calendar; he bottomless ravine—outspectacles Charybdis was an account of the tidal taught metallurgy and the art of every other natural extravaganza bores in the Bay of Fundy in Nova fine feather-work. His dynamic on this earth with its brilliant Scotia. Jason and the Argonauts had personality was so strong he was yellows, vibrant oranges, deep also crossed the Atlantic, followed revered as a god, even in his own subtle reds and in its shadows the Atlantic coast of South America time—Quetzalcoatl, Kukulcan… pale lavenders toning into rich, southward, and journeyed into the That he was well-beloved by all velvet blues—like a glorious Andes, where they found the Golden those with whom he had contact, sunrise or sunset. Nothing but the Fleece. In her book Atlantis: Dwelling is evident by the number of sun itself could have imparted Place of the Gods, Mertz argued that towns and villages from one end such rich color—and nowhere Atlantis was actually the eastern of Mexico to the other, named in else does it exist. To an ancient United States. his honor. It is my belief that his Chinese, traveling east, this great Mertz’s book Pale Ink took its title journey can be traced by those fissure must be the place where from a saying of Confucius that “pale places.30 the sun was born. www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 13 Hundreds of Chinese cited Mertz as his authority in saying story. Harris proposed that after apparently saw the Canyon—it that the Chinese had reached the Noah’s flood had caused Earth’s axis was a “must” on their travel- Southwest: “Long regarded as a book to be thrown out of line and caused adventure schedule. “I saw the of myth it [the Classic of Mountains and Earth’s orbit around the sun to be place where the sun was born”— Seas] is now asserted to be an accurate changed, the Chinese Emperor Yao Chinese poetry and literature geographic description of various sent Prince Yi (Or “Y” as Harris spells fairly bulges with cantos of landmarks in America, including it) to the Grand Canyon to reestablish glowing reminiscence. They the ‘Great Luminous Canyon’ now the world’s four directions. Unlike called it the “Great Canyon,” 4000 known as the Grand Canyon.”32 Henriette Mertz, who took the story of years ago; we call it the “Grand Two years before Mertz’s book Yi the archer to be a poetic metaphor Canyon,” today. No one could came out as a paperback, a book of how the canyon became so colorful, stand on the rim of the canyon was published in Taiwan that made Harris makes it a real event. Yi’s bow and be unmoved by it. The even greater claims about the Grand was some sort of crossbow-shaped Indians could not; the Chinese Canyon. The Asiatic Fathers of America astronomical instrument, made of could not, and we can not… was, like Vining’s book, about 800 jade, with which he shoots—takes the The “archer story” in the Ninth pages long. Its author was Hendon measurements—of the sun. To take Book, locates, without a shadow Harris, Jr., who was born in China in these measurements Yi had to sail of a doubt, the place where the 1916, the son of Baptist missionaries, across the Pacific Ocean and go to the Chinese legend originated. It is and who became a missionary in Grand Canyon. my belief that someday it will Taiwan and Hong Kong. Harris Yet in trying to make this story be found that the story of the devoted an entire chapter to the Grand real, Harris has trouble explaining archer came from one of the Canyon, and the canyon shows up those nine extra suns. Maybe they Indian tribes and was told to frequently throughout the book. He were just reflections on the waters the Chinese. They took it home claimed that the Grand Canyon was of the flood, causing confusion and as a legend of the Canyon—the well-known to the ancient Chinese panic. As Harris considers it further, Indian legend of how the Canyon and that every Chinese heart longed he becomes dissatisfied with his was formed—a legend like that of to see it, though the canyon’s distance naturalistic explanation. He thinks the origin of the Snake Clan…In made it seem like a legend. of Joshua, and God making the sun this instance, we have the Indian Hendon Harris’s enthusiasm for stand still. Harris decides that maybe trying to explain to himself how the Grand Canyon was fueled by a the Yi story was miraculous after all: the Canyon came about and why hike he did there on the Bright Angel God really did intervene and melt it was so rich in the colors of the Trail in 1961, at age forty-five. It was nine extra suns out of the sky. sun. It sounded plausible to the mid-summer and he decided to hike Yi needed to go to the Grand poetic soul of the Chinese and to the river and back in one day. A Canyon because it was a natural they “borrowed” it and took it mule wrangler continued warning observatory, the best in the world, home. The legend, in China, has Harris he would have trouble getting whose darkness allowed a better view never been understood—it has back out, but Harris ignored him. of the heavens. Harris said it was like just been there always as a part At the river Harris gathered cactus, the Cheops Pyramid, which held a of their folklore with no known breaking the law against removing tunnel from which ancient Egyptian beginning. This, it is submitted, anything from a national park. Harris priests observed the pole star. is its foundation—here at our did indeed struggle getting out. It Near Havasupai Point Harris Grand Canyon.31 appears he wasn’t carrying enough came upon a large, round ruin, with water. For three days afterward he many pottery fragments scattered Mertz also claims that the Classic could barely walk. about. Harris imagined that this was held descriptions of landscapes near Harris’s theories were just as an ancient observatory built by the the Grand Canyon, such as a “quaking reckless as his hiking. While he gave Chinese. mountain,” which means the quaking the Grand Canyon a larger role than Harris also brought Hui Shen aspen forests on the North Rim. other authors, he also dragged it and into the story. About 2,500 years Even when Pale Ink was an obscure the once-reputable idea of Fusang after Prince Yi, Hui Shen came to book, Mertz won an important further into the realm of crackpots. the canyon to make astronomical supporter. Southwestern author Harris was a believer in the theories measurements to revise the Chinese Frank Waters was an enthusiast for of Immanuel Velikovsky, whose 1956 calendar. For centuries teams of the mystic East. Waters was working bestseller Worlds in Collision held Chinese astronomers continued on his Book of the Hopi, and he was that unusual astronomical events coming to the canyon to observe determined to turn the Hopis into had triggered worldwide cataclysms the movements of the sun and stars. Eastern sages, whether they liked it that are recorded in human texts and These visits were recorded in Chinese or not—which they did not. Waters legends, including the Noah’s flood texts and in Native American legends.

14 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Paiute shamans still kept watch at made little acknowledgment that he 10 Ibid, p 122. the canyon’s Angels Gate for their was playing a 240-year-old game, 11 Ibid, p 3. gods to return and lead them to a more perhaps because he was determined 12 Ibid, p 109-10. abundant land—a garbled memory to make the Chinese discover 13 S. Wells Williams, Notices of Fu-sang of the Chinese astronomers coming America in 1421 and not a thousand and Other Countries Lying East of China (New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse, and there. The Hopis too eagerly awaited years previously. But Menzies played Taylor, 1881), quoted in Vining, p 230. the return of the Chinese. Indeed, the game with the same recklessness 14 Ibid, p. 233. the Hopis are Chinese. Their name as his predecessors. Menzies didn’t 15 Ibid, p 240. derives from the Chinese word “Ho- bring in the Grand Canyon, but 16 Edward P. Vining, An Inglorious ping-kuo”, which in Chinese means among other things he did claim that Columbus: or Evidence that Hwui Shan and “country of peace.” Hopi hairstyles Navajo elders can understand the a Party of Buddhist Monks from Afghanistan are obviously Chinese. Hopi culture Chinese language. Among the many Discovered America in the Fifth Century AD is very Buddhist. Harris agreed with expressions of renewed interest in the (New York: D. Appleton and Company, Mertz, whom he cited as a high subject, Thomas Steinbeck, the son of 1885) p 532. authority, that Chinese texts contained John Steinbeck, wrote a novel about 17 Ibid, p 510. America’s Place the Hopi tale of Hopis marrying the Chinese discovering America, In 18 Alexander McAllan, in Mythology: Disclosing the Nature of snakes, but Harris goes further and the Shadow of the Cypress. Hindoo and Buddhist Beliefs (Brooklyn, NY: suggests that the Hopis meant to Of course, it was really the Grand 1910) Preface (in Nabu reprint edition). say dragons, Chinese dragons. The Canyon that discovered the Chinese 19 Ibid, p 113. Kingdom of Women, which was near and the Europeans and even the 20 Ibid, p 86. the Hopis, didn’t refer to monkeys Native Americans staring into it 21 Ibid, p 81. but to another Indian tribe descended quite late in its long history. It was 22 Ibid, p 100. from the Chinese. The Hopis shared the Colorado River that served as a 23 Alexander McAllan, Ancient Chinese the Chinese recognition that the mirror of continually changing animal Account of the Grand Canyon; or, Course of Grand Canyon was the center of the faces and continually changing rock the Colorado (Brooklyn, N. Y: 1913) p 5. spiritual cosmos. faces, until there appeared an animal 24 Ibid, p 9. Like Egyptian-cave true believers, whose head swarmed with obsessive 25 Ibid, p 11. 26 Ibid, p 28. Harris pointed to the names of questions and ideas about the origins 27 Ibid, p 43. canyon landmarks—Buddha Temple, of itself. 28 J. O. Kinnaman, “America’s Place Confucius Temple—as proof that in Mythology,” American Antiquarian and Asians were there. The Asians who (Endnotes) Oriental Journal, Vol. 36, 1914, p 48. built the Mexican pyramids were 1 Joseph Needham, Science and 29 J. O. Kinnaman, The Theosophical copying Grand Canyon structures. Civilization in China, Volume 4: Physics Path, 1919, Volume 2, February, p 152. It was Asians who founded the great and Physical Technology, Part 3: Civil 30 Henriette Mertz, Gods from the Far Engineering and Nautics civilizations of Mexico. Hui Shen (Cambridge: East: How the Chinese Discovered America Cambridge University Press, 1971) p 540. continued visiting America for forty (New York: Ballantine Books, 1974) p 68 2 Joseph de Guignes, Investigation (in Forgotten Books reprint). years and built a force of 100,000 of the Navigations of the Chinese to the missionaries working for the Buddhist 31 Ibid, p 131-32. Coast of America, and as to some Tribes 32 Frank Waters, The Book of the Hopi cause. The pyramid of Teotihuacan situated at the Eastern Extremity of Asia, (New York: Viking Penguin, 1963) p 116 was built to honor Hui Shen. The four cited in Edward P. Vining, An Inglorious (paperback edition). Buddhist priests who accompanied Columbus; or Evidence that Hwui Shan and Hui Shen became priests at other a Party of Buddhist Monks from Afghanistan great Mexican temples. Discovered America in the Fifth Century AD For Hendon Harris the Grand (New York: D. Appleton and Company, Canyon offered great spiritual 1885) p 31-2. 3 The Classic of Mountains and Seas, revelation; it was ordained by translated by Anne Birrell (London: heaven to show humans their secret Penguin Books, 1999) p 159. connections with the cosmos. 4 Ibid, p 542. Harris’s book was barely noticed, 5 Charles Godfrey Leland, Fusang: The but in 2006 his daughter Charlotte Discovery of America by Chinese Buddhist Harris Rees brought out a shortened Monks in the Fifth Century (London: version, in the wake of renewed Trubner, 1875) p 101(in the Forgotten interest in the possible Chinese Books reprint). discovery of America. This interest 6 Ibid, p 34. was stirred up by the 2002 bestseller 7 Ibid, p 35. 1421: The Year China Discovered 8 Ibid, p 110. 9 Ibid, p 36. America, by Gavin Menzies. Menzies www.GrandCanyonHistory.org Grand Canyon Historical Society : 15 Grand Canyon Historical Society PRSRT STD PO Box 31405 U.S. POSTAGE Flagstaff, AZ 86003 PAID FLAGSTAFF, AZ PERMIT 333

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Letter to the Editor Louis Schellbach’s log books VII Panda Tracks in the Grand Canyon

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The Ol’ Pioneer submission deadlines are roughly the first of January, April, July, and Prince Abdullah al Faisal (left), Saudi Arabia; Sheikh Mohammad Massoud, the October. prince’s adviser and interpreter; park naturalist Louis Schellbach at Moran Point, July 28, 1952. Photographer Steve Leding. Grand Canyon N.P. photo # 2286

16 : Grand Canyon Historical Society www.GrandCanyonHistory.org