英语翻译
Lesson 2 A Giraffe in Central Asia
Tamerlane was a very strong Mongol leader.He and his soldiers fought until Tamerlane became the ruler of all Central Asia.Rulers of other countries wanted to make friends with Tamerlane.It was safer to be friends than enemies.
Ambassadors from many countries took gifts to Tamerlane.They took beautiful cloth,jewelry,gold,and silver.They often tried to take something unusual as a gift,too.
In 1404,near the end of Tamerlane’s life,an Egyptian ambassador arrived in Samarkand.This was where Tamerlane lived.The ambassador and his men traveled on horses and camels.They brought a giraffe from Africa as a gift.
Egyptian camels and horses were used to walking in the desert.They did it all the time.A giraffe is not used to the desert.But this giraffe walked 5000 kilometers from Cairo to Samarkand.
We know about the Egyptian ambassador’s gift because several people wrote about it.No one wrote that Tamerlane liked it.However,we suppose that he was very pleased to have this strong African animal in Central Asia.