42V HISTORY OF 



queror of India, he was treated with neglect by the court, upon 

 his return. Applying, therefore, to the king of Spain, he \va» 

 intrusted with the command of five ships, to subdue the Molucca 

 islands ; upon one of which he was slain. It was in liis voyage 

 thither, that he happened to winter in St Julian's Bay, an 

 American harbour, forty-nine degrees south of the line. In this 

 desolate region, where nothing was seen but objects of terror, 

 where neither trees nor verdure dressed the face of the country, 

 they remained for some months without seeing any human crea- 

 ture. They had judged the country to be utterly uninhabitable •, 

 when one day they saw approaching, as if he had been dropped 

 from the clouds, a man of enormous stature, dancing and snig- 

 ing, and putting dust upon his head, as they supposed, in token 

 of peace. This overture for friendship was, by Magellan's com- 

 mand, quickly answered by the rest of his men ; and the giant 

 approaching, testified every mark of astonishment and surprise. 

 He was so tall, that the Spaniards only reached his waist ; his 

 face was broad, his colour brown, and painted over with a variety 

 of tints ; each cheek had the resemblance of a heart drawn upon it ; 

 his hair was approaching to whiteness ? he was clothed in skins, 

 and armed with a bow. Being treated with kindness, and dis- 

 missed with some triiiing presents, he soon returned with many 

 more of the same stature -, two of whom the mariners decoyed on 

 ship-board : nothing could be more gentle than they were in the 

 beginning ; they considered the fetters that were preparing for 

 them as ornaments, and played with them like children with their 

 toys ; but when they found for what purpose they were intended, 

 they instantly exerted their amazing strength, and broke them in 

 pieces wuth a very easy effort. This account, with a variety of 

 other circumstances, has been confirmed by succeeding travellers. 

 Herrara, Sebald Wert, Oliver Van Noort, and James le Maire, 

 all correspond in affirming the fact, although they differ in many 

 particulars of their respective descriptions. The last voyager 

 we have had, that has seen this enormous race, is Commodore 

 Byron. I have talked with the person who first gave the rela- 

 tion of that voyage, and who was the carpenter of the commo- 

 dore's ship ; he was a sensible, understanding man, and I be- 

 lieve extremely fiiithful. By him, therefore, I was assured, in 

 the most solenni manner, of the truth of his relation ; and this 

 account has since been confirmed by one or two jmblicatioiis ; in 



