Read the excerpt from chapter 8 of the travels of marco polo. i should add that ships cannot sail to the other islands that lie farther south, beyond madagascar and zanzibar, because the current sets so strongly towards the south that they would have little chance of returning. therefore they do not venture to go. you may note that ships coming from maabar to this island make the voyage in twenty days, whereas the return trip takes them all of three months; and this is due to the continual southward set of the current. it flows in the same direction the all time—southward, ever southward. these more southerly islands, which men do not willingly visit because of this southward drift, are very numerous, and it is said that they are inhabited by gryphon birds, which make their appearance here at certain seasons of the year. what indicates that the author's purpose is to inform readers about travel south of madagascar and zanzibar? the author shares facts and specific details about the difficulty of sailing in the region. the author tells a dramatic story about ships having difficulty sailing in the region. the author expresses nervousness about the animals living in the region. the author wants to discourage readers from trying to sail in the region.