You must know that this Island lies so far south that ships cannot go further south or visit other Islands in 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.[NOTE 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 description 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 30 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.[NOTE 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 who went thither.  He also sent to procure the release of an envoy of his who had been despatched thither, and had been detained; so both those envoys had many wonderful things to tell the Great Kaan about those strange islands, and about the birds I have mentioned. [They brought (as I heard) to the Great Kaan a feather of the said Ruc, which was stated to measure 90 spans, whilst the quill part was two palms in circumference, a marvellous object!  The Great Kaan was delighted with it, and gave great presents to those who brought it. [NOTE 6]] They also brought two boars’ tusks, which weighed more than 14 lbs. apiece; and you may gather how big the boar must have been that had teeth like that!  They related indeed that there were some of those boars as big as a great buffalo.  There are also numbers of giraffes and wild asses; and in fact a marvellous number of wild beasts of strange aspect.[NOTE 7]

NOTE 1.—­Marco is, I believe, the first writer European or Asiatic, who unambiguously speaks of MADAGASCAR; but his information about it was very incorrect in many particulars.  There are no elephants nor camels in the island, nor any leopards, bears, or lions.