The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-04
- 3'-a'---ll------'ll------
THE FABLED ROC.
Marco Polo Tells What He Heard OF
the Monster Bird


''The True Story of Marco Polo" as
told anew in st. Nicholas by Noah
Brooks, contains many stories about the
fabulous monsters. In the April number
is the. following account of the famous
Roc;
You must know that this island lies 50
far south that ships cannot go further
south or visit other islands in that direc-
ton, except this one and that other of
which we have TO tell you, called Fang
hibar. This is because the sea current
runs so strong toward the south that the
ships which should attempt it never
would get back again. In deed the ships
of Maabar which visit this Island Of Mad
eigascar, ana that other of Zanghibar,
arrive thither with marvellous speed, for
great as The distance is, they accomplish
1t in twenty days, while the return voy-
age takes them more than three months
This is because Of the strong current run
ming SOUTH which continues with such
singular force and in the same direction
at all seasons.
IT'S said that in those other islands 10
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 il is, however
entirely different from what our stories
and pictures make it. For persons who
had been there and had seen il told Mes
ser Marco Polo that il 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 thirty PAGES
and its quilts were twelve PAGES long, ana
thick in proportion. And it Is so strong
that it will seize an elephant in its talous
and carry him high into the air, and drop
l.a 10 aalfs, 70 MO
ing so killed him, the bird gryphon swoops
down upon him and eats him at leisure
The people of those isle call the bird
rue. and II mas no other name. So
wot not il this be the real gryphon, or If
there be another manner of bird as great
But this l can tell you for certain, that
they are nos half lion and half bird, as
our stories DO relate; but enormous as
they be, they are fashioned just like an
eagle
The great khan sent TO those parts to
inquire about these curious matters, ana
the story was told by those who went
thither He also sent 70 procure the re-
lease of an envoy of his who had been
dispatched thither. and had been detained;
so both those ENJOYS had many wonder
full things to tell the great khan about
those strange islands, and about the birds
l have mentioned. They brought las ]
heard to the great khan a feather of the
solu rue, which was stated TO measure
ninety spans, whilst the quill part was
two palms i'm circumference a marvellous
object! The great khan was delighted
with Il, and gave great presents 10 those
who brought IL. They also brought two
boar's tusks. which weighed more than
fourteen pounds apiece. and you may
gather how big the boar must have been
mat had teeth like thatl They related.
indeed. that there were some of those
hoars as big as a great buffalo There
are numbers Of giraffos and wild asses
and IN fact a marvellous number OF wild
beasts Of strange aspect