DIFFERENCES OF STATURE. 375 



North America, between 31^ and 35° north latitude, taller 

 than Europeans ; many being* above 6 feet, and few under 

 5 feet 8 or 10 inches *. 



The Patagonians f, or, according to their indigenous 

 name, the Tehuels, who occupy the south-eastern part of 

 South America, have been the most celebrated for their 

 colossal stature ; and really seem to be the tallest race of 

 human beings. Their height, however, has been exagge- 

 rated by some, while others have denied that it exceeded 

 the ordinary standard. Pigafetta X^ who accompanied 

 Magalhaens on the first circumnavigation of the globe, 

 gives them the height of 8 Spanish feet (7 feet 4 inches 

 English). Subsequently to this period, for two centuries 

 and a half, the narratives of European travellers are so 

 strangely contradictory and inconsistent with each other on 

 the subject of these Patagonians, that they afford a lesson 

 inculcating most strongly the necessity of caution and diffi- 

 dence in employing such reports §. It is sufficient for the 

 present purpose to represent what appears the probable state 

 of the case, after weighing and critically considering the 

 most unexceptionable testimonies. 



The Patagonians seem to be a tall but not gigantic race, 

 and to possess a remarkably muscular frame. The only indi- 

 viduals ever seen in Europe were brought to Spain towards 

 the end of the sixteenth century, and seen at Seville by the 



* Ti-nvcls, p. 482. 



+ The name of Patagonians is said by BLu:iiENBACH to have been given to 

 them by the Spaniards, berause they deemed them allied to the neighbouring 

 tribe of Chonos, and from their lower limbs being covered with gnanaco skins, 

 so as to resemble the hairy legs of animals, which are called in Spanish, patas. 

 De G. H. Far. Nat. p. 254. 



t Viaggio /florno il 3Iondo, in the Collection of Ramusio, v. i. p. 358. 



§The opposing testimonies of various Spanish, French, English, and Dutch 

 navigators, who have spoken of the Patagonians, from the time of their being 

 first noticed by Pigafetta, to the voyages in the last century, are brought 

 together in the French Histoire des Navigations aux Terres Australes ; and 

 the statement may he seen in English, in Dr. Haw kesworth's general intro. 

 duction to the accoynt of the voyages undertaken by order of his Majesty, 

 &c. 3 vols. 4lo. 



