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        Josafa Barbaro; Viaggio di Josaphat

        Barbaro, Ambasciadore di Venetia,
        alla Tana et in Persia 
        (Travels to Tana and Persia) (1471).
        --------------------------------------
As illustration only from a 16th century painting; a giraffe given to the ruler of India: Jahangir

Giosafat Barbaro (also Giosaphat or Josaphat) (1413–1494) a Venetian. He was a diplomat, merchant, explorer and travel writer. He was unusually well-travelled for someone of his times. In 1472, Giosafat Barbaro was selected as an ambassador to Persia, due to his experience in the Crimean, Muscovy, and Tartary. He also spoke Turkish and a little Persian. His instructions included urging admiral Pietro Mocenigo of the Persian King to attack the Ottomans and attempting to arrange naval cooperation from the Kingdom of Cyprus and the Knights of Rhodes. He was also in charge of three galleys full of artillery, ammunition, and military personnel who were to assist Uzun Hassan the King of Persia. He finds a giraffe in the East.

Taken from : Josafa barbaro and Ambrogio Contarini: Travels to Tana and Persia

(When he came to Thauris (1) city of king Assambei (2) and was received by the king)

Meanwhile there came in certain men sent from a prince of India, with certain strange beasts, the first one being …….. After this was brought forth a giraffa, which they call Girnaffa, a beast as long legged as a great horse, or rather more; but the hinder legs are half a foot shorter than the former, and is cloven footed as an ox, in manner of a violet color mingled all over with black spots, great and small according to their places, the belly white, somewhat with long hair, thin hair on the tail like of an ass, little horns like a goat, and a neck more then a pace long; the tongue a yard long, violet and round as an eel, with which he grasps and eats the leaves from the trees so swiftly that it is scarcely to be perceived. He is headed like a deer, but finer. Standing on the ground he will well reach 15 feet high. His breast is broader then a horse, but the rump narrower like of an ass; it seemed to be a very pretty beast, but not to be bearing any burden. After this were brought forth in three cages three pair of doves.........

(1) Thauris: presently Tabriz in north-western Iran.

(2) king Assambei: Italian corruption of Hassan Beg (Uzun Hasan): ruled between 1452 and 1478, and would preside over the confederation's territorial apex, when it included parts or all of present-day Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Transcaucasia and Syria.