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0470 The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2
マルコ=ポーロ卿の記録 : vol.2
The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / 470 ページ(カラー画像)

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doi: 10.20676/00000269
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412

MARCO POLO

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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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