The Island of Seven Cities

THE ISLAND OF SEVEN CITIES: WHERE THE CHINESE SETTLED WHEN THEY DISCOVERED AMERICA: Paul Chiasson: St. Martin’s (2006): 376 pages: Nonfiction

Since my visit to China this year I can’t help but pick up anything with China in the title. I recently watched the DVD “1421” and was intrigued by Gavin Menzies theory about the Chinese discovering America. This author came by a far different route to the conclusion that some ruins located on Cape Breton Island had to have been left by the Chinese. He methodically examines the history of the island looking for possible builders of a stone lined road on Caper Breton Island, delving back into the history of the island as far as it was possible to go. He could find no mention of anyone building anything faintly resembling the ruins he had stumbled onto.

His fascinating assertion has yet to be examined thoroughly by archaeologists. In fact, the ones he tried to share his ideas with were singularly uninterested. Of course, Gavin Menzies was very, very interested but his approval doesn’t impress historians and archaeologists.

Much of the book was a bit tedious to me because I wasn’t all that interested in the history of Cape Breton Island. However, the author did manage to demonstrate that he had very thoroughly examined the history of the island. Who knows what he found? It is not at all unbelievable to me that the Chinese reached the shores of America. A lot of other people have, as well. It will be interesting to learn more as the scientific world follows up on his conclusions.

SH