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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
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412
MARCO POLO
PooK ITT.
S = •
I ill;
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that direction, except this one, and that other of which
we have to tell you, called Zanghibar. This is because
the sea-current runs so strong towards the south that
the ships which should attempt it never would get back
again. Indeed, the ships of Maabar which visit this
Island of Madeigascar, and that other of Zanghibar,
arrive thither with marvellous speed, for great as the
distance is they accomplish it in 20 days, whilst the
return voyage takes them more than 3 months. This
(I say) is because of the strong current running south,
which continues with such singular force and in the
same direction at all seasons.4
'Tis said that in those other Islands to the south,
which the ships are unable to visit because this strong
current prevents their return, is found the bird Gryphon,
which appears there at certain seasons. The descrip-
tion given of it is however entirely different from what
our stories and pictures make it. For persons who had
been there and had seen it told Messer Marco Polo
that it was for all the world like an eagle, but one indeed
of enormous size ; so big in fact that its wings covered
an extent of 3o paces, and its quills were 12 paces long,
and thick in proportion. And it is so strong that it will
seize an elephant in its talons and carry him high into
the air, and drop him so that he is smashed to pieces ;
having so killed him the bird gryphon swoops down on
him and eats him at leisure. The people of those isles
call the bird Ruc, and it has no other name.5 So I wot
not if this be the real gryphon, or if there be another
manner of bird as great. But this I can tell you for
certain, that they are not half lion and half bird as our
stories do relate ; but enormous as they be they are
fashioned just like an eagle.
The Great Kaan sent to those parts to enquire about
these curious matters, and the story was told by those
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