"Le detroit de Gobernador a vingt lieues de long,
et est for difficile quand on n'y a jamais passe."
The Venetian passo was 5 feet. Marco here alludes to the well-known
practice with the Chinese junks of raising the rudder, for which they have
a special arrangement, which is indicated in the cut at p. 248.
NOTE 3. - There is a difficulty here about the indications, carrying us, as
they do, first 60 miles through the Strait, and then 30 miles further to
the Island Kingdom and city of Malaiur. There is also a singular variation
in the readings as to this city and island. The G.T. has "Une isle qe
est roiame, et s'apelle Malanir e l'isle Pentam." The Crusca has the
same, only reading Malavir. Pauthier: "Une isle qui est royaume, et a
nom Maliur." The Geog. Latin: "Ibi invenitur una insula in qua est unus
rex quem vocant Lamovich. Civitas et insula vocantur Pontavich." Ram.:
"Chiamasi la citta Malaiur, e cosi l'isola Malaiur."
All this is very perplexed, and it is difficult to trace what may have
been the true readings. The 30 miles beyond the straits, whether we give
the direction south-east as in G.T. or no, will not carry us to the
vicinity of any place known to have been the site of an important city.
