Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 33: Male & Female

The isle called Male is six hundred miles out at sea south of Kesmacoran. The people are baptised Christians attached to the law and customs of Old Testament; they are very reserved in their intercourse with their wives.  All the latter dwell in another island, which is called Female.  The men go and reside there three months in a year: March to May, and then they return to their own residence, and spend the remaining months in labour.  Fine and beautiful amber is found here.  The people live on rice, milk and flesh.  Fishing is their main occupation, and they earn by exporting them, after their consumption.  They have no ruler except a bishop subject to an Archbishop of Scotra and have a language of their own.  The isle where their wives live is thirty miles distant; but they could not subsist if they spent the whole year with them. The sons remain with their mothers

till the age of fourteen, when they go to join their fathers In their seperate abode.

Notes:-

1. Scotra: Socotra island on the Yemen side of Indian Ocean. It is about 1200 nautical miles and 10 to 14 days' journey from Maldives to Socotra island.  Since Marco Polo did not mention this, which has been his usual way, it is assumed that he did not visit the place, but sourced it from other merchants. Either way it is not bad, knowledge is for sharing. Need not worry who caught the dog.

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