Hugh Pendexter

“ Here they are soon perceived by a large eagle (really half-lion) called a griffin, which takes them for cattle, darts down and seizes them in his gripe, and carries them upon dry land, where he deposits his burden upon a hill or in a dale, there to consume his prey. The man, however, now makes use of his knife to kill the bird, and creeps forth from the hide. Many people have been saved by this stratagem.”
Sir John Maundeville described California giants having one eye (old stuff) . He improves when he speaks of others “of cursed stature,” and having eyes “in their shoulders.” ”

“ The crew and passengers consume their provisions and then die miserably. Many vessels have been lost in this way; but the people have learned to save themselves from this fate by the following contrivance: they take bullocks’ hides along with them, and whenever this storm arises they sew themselves up in the hides, taking care to have a knife in their hand; and, being secure against sea-water, they throw themselves into the ocean. ”

“ But the writer gets stronger as he proceeds, and among other things says:
“In the island called California (perhaps the name is first found in this little romance) are many griffins, on account of the great savageness of the country and the immense quantity of wild game to be found there.”
It has ever been man’s whim to dream of new lands where there are “Cities of Gold” and “Terrestial Paradises.” Romancers told and wrote tales of the fabulous long before the New World was discovered. ”