It is reported on Monday's UK Daily Telegraph that a British amateur historian said that the ancient Chinese explorer Zheng He had been some 72 years ahead of Columbus in discovering America. To prove this he said he was backed by many of his researches and graphs he has got on his hand.

According to the historian, it can be proved with much evidence that Zheng He had discovered most parts of the world in the middle of the 15th century. On March 15 the historian will introduce his researches to more than 200 diplomats, scholars, and bookmen at the Royal Geographical Society.

The Italian navigator Christopher Columbus arrived in America on Oct.12, 1492, and a new era of European exploration and expansion began. A 14-year study on the activities of the Chinese fleet during 1421 to 1423 told the historian that with many valuables, silk, and porcelain on his ships Zheng He was the first man completing the first circumnavigation of the globe one century earlier than Ferdinand Magellan during 1519-1522.

"No one has explained that why European explorers had maps in their hands at that time," the historian said, "And who had drawn the maps? It was a large ocean extending there and a large armada was necessary for drawing those maps. So who would be the map drawers if not the Chinese commanding the world largest armada?"

( People's Daily March 6, 2002)