| Citation |
NHG-P.767.032
17 Apr 1767:11,12,13 (550)
As Commodore Byron is thought to be the first discoverer of
the Patagonian Islands, and their gigantic inhabitants, and
as his supposed discovery has attracted the attention of the
nation; it may not be amiss to select some general
observations from an antient History of India, by which it
appears, that not only these islands were known, but that
the giants were of teachable and friendly dispositions.
Fermandus Magellanes, a subject of Portugal, was the first
person who sailed round the globe, which he performed in the
ship San Victoria, in the service of Spain, and sailed from
Seville on the 10th
August 1519, in company with four other ships with 250 men.
On the 26th Sept. they arrived at Teneriffe, and departed
from thence the 3d of October, and sailed betwixt the
Islands and Cape de Verde to the coast of Guinea; . . . [14
more lines recounting their journey until] they came to two
Islands, where they met with prodigious plenty of Pinquins
and seals; departing from thence they arrived at the 49d.
30m degrees of South Latitude, and having found a place of
safety, they wintered there two months; all which time they
saw no man, excepting one day a man of the stature of a
giant, came towards their harbour dancing and singing, and
soon after seemed to cast dust over his head. Magellianes
sent one of his men on shore with the ship's boat with signs
of peace; which they giant seeing, was out of fear, and came
with the man to a little island to Magellianes; whom when
the giant saw with his company of men, he was greatly
amazed, and made signed, lifting his hands to heaven,
signifying thereby, he believed they came from thence. This
giant was so big that the head of one of Magellianes's men
came but to his waste; he was well proportioned in all his
parts; with a large visage painted with divers colours, but
mostly yellow; upon his cheek were painted two hearts, and
red circles about his eyes; the hair of his head was
colour'd white, and he was cloathed with the skin of a
monstrous beast sewed together; this beast, (as it appeared)
had a large head with great ears like mules, with a body of
a camel, and the tail of a horse.
. . . [13 lines]
Shortly after, another larger giant came with his bow and
arrow, and as he drew near, he laid his hand on his head and
pointed to heaven, and Magellianes's men did the like, and
sent the boat to carry him to a little island in the
harbour; he was very tractable and pleasant, sung and
danced; and in dancing left the print of his feet on the
ground; they named him John, and he tarried considerable
time with them; he could speak well, and plainly pronounced;
Jesus, Ave Maria, Johannes, as other men, but with louder
voice; they gave him a linnen shirt and cloth coat, a cap, a
comb, a looking-glass, with divers other things and sent him
ashore--. . . [30 lines] They say, when any one of them
dies, there appears 10 or 12 devils, leaping and dancing
about the body of the dead, and seem to have their bodies
painted with many colours; . . . [35 lines, 37 lines]
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