Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 37: The Islands in the Indian Seas
You must know, I have described only its noblest kingdoms and islands; those that make the flower of the region, and to which rest are mostly subject. No man can enumerate the whole islands; thy are estimated around 12700, inhabited and uninhabited according to the writing of the most skilful mariners. In the Greater India, which extends from Maabar (former Madras) to Kesmacoran (Karachi and beyond), there are thirteen very great kingdoms, of which I have described ten. The lesser India, stretching Zinaba to Motifi contains eight, and this is exclusive of numerous others that are in the islands.
Notes:-
Zinaba to Montifi:- It is quite natural that Marco Polo did not have a clear cut view of India. World maps began to be accurate only after the 15th century.
By Zinaba to Montifi Marco Polo meant Zanzibar to Maldives. Medieval concept of India consisted of Greater India that is Indian subcontinent and Lesser India that consisted of regions east of Indian subcontinent in which comes Zanzibar to Maldives.
End of the Section
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