I think I found it:
’ When the first Europeans arrived in that part of the world they found coconuts planted along the Pacific coasts and on islands off the coasts – coconuts being plants which originated in the Far East. They also found Chinese ship dogs and Chinese rice. Drake captured a Chinese junk trading between North and South America whose pilot had a chart showing the Pacific. Taking all this evidence in the round, it seems to me inescapable that the Chinese and Japanese lived in this small part of the Isthmus of Darien and created settlements there before the first Europeans arrived – for, as mentioned in earlier talks, the first Europeans found Chinese people already settled on the Pacific coasts of both North and South America. The puzzle is, why should this be?...’
http://www.gavinmenzies.net/Evidence/15-annex-15-evidence-of-the-first-panama-canal/
Taking all this evidence in the round, it seems to me inescapable that the Chinese and Japanese lived in this small part of the Isthmus of Darien ( Panama)>>>>>>>>>>>>
One wonders what the Chinese inns had on their menus?
Rice, BBQ pork, and noodles I’d bet.
Excellent, thanks.