[14] An example is seen in the voluminous Annali Musulmani of G. B.
Rampoldi, Milan, 1825. This writer speaks of the Travels of Marco
Polo with his brother and uncle; declares that he visited Tipango
(sic), Java, Ceylon, and the Maldives, collected all the
geographical notions of his age, traversed the two peninsulas of the
Indies, examined the islands of Socotra, Madagascar, Sofala, and
traversed with philosophic eye the regions of Zanguebar, Abyssinia,
Nubia, and Egypt! and so forth (ix. 174). And whilst Malte-Brun
bestows on Marco the sounding and ridiculous title of "the Humboldt
of the 13th century," he shows little real acquaintance with his
Book. (See his Precis, ed. of 1836, I. 551 seqq.)
[15] See for example vol. i. p. 338, and note 4 at p. 341; also vol. ii.
p. 103. The descriptions in the style referred to recur in all seven
times; but most of them (which are in Book IV.) have been omitted in
this translation.
[16] [On the subject of Moses of Chorene and his works, I must refer to
the clever researches of the late Auguste Carriere, Professor of
Armenian at the Ecole des Langues Orientales. - H. C.]
[17] Zacher, Forschungen zur Critik, &c., der Alexandersage, Halle,
1867, p. 108.
[18] Even so sagacious a man as Roger Bacon quotes the fabulous letter of
Alexander to Aristotle as authentic. (Opus Majus, p. 137.)
[19] J. As. ser. VI. tom. xviii. p. 352.
[20] See passage from Jacopo d'Acqui, supra, p. 54.
[21] It is the transcriber of one of the Florence MSS. who appends this
terminal note, worthy of Mrs. Nickleby: - "Here ends the Book of Messer
M. P. of Venice, written with mine own hand by me Amalio Bonaguisi
when Podesta of Cierreto Guidi, to get rid of time and ennui. The
contents seem to me incredible things, not lies so much as miracles;
and it may be all very true what he says, but I don't believe it;
though to be sure throughout the world very different things are found
in different countries. But these things, it has seemed to me in
copying, are entertaining enough, but not things to believe or put any
faith in; that at least is my opinion. And I finished copying this at
Cierreto aforesaid, 12th November, A.D. 1392."
[22] Vulgar Errors, Bk. I. ch. viii.; Astley's Voyages, IV. 583.
[23] A few years before Marsden's publication, the Historical branch of
the R. S. of Science at Goettingen appears to have put forth as the
subject of a prize Essay the Geography of the Travels of Carpini,
Rubruquis, and especially of Marco Polo. (See L. of M. Polo, by
Zurla, in Collezione di Vite e Ritratti d'Illustri Italiani. Pad.
1816.)
[24] See Staedtewesen des Mittelalters, by K. D. Huellmann, Bonn, 1829,
vol. iv.
After speaking of the Missions of Pope Innocent IV. and St. Lewis,
this author sketches the Travels of the Polos, and then proceeds: -
"Such are the clumsily compiled contents of this ecclesiastical
fiction (Kirchengeschichtlichen Dichtung) disguised as a Book of
Travels, a thing devised generally in the spirit of the age, but
specially in the interests of the Clergy and of Trade.... This
compiler's aim was analogous to that of the inventor of the Song of
Roland, to kindle enthusiasm for the conversion of the Mongols, and so
to facilitate commerce through their dominions.... Assuredly the Poli
never got further than Great Bucharia, which was then reached by many
Italian Travellers.
![The Travels Of Marco Polo - Volume 1 Of 2 By Marco Polo And Rustichello Of Pisa
- (Vol. ii
pp. 185, 216.)
[14] An example is seen in the voluminous Annali Musulmani of G. B.
Rampoldi, Milan - Page 177](../images/travel.jpg)
