THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 107 



American continent, extending from the southern extremity of 

 Fuegia, over the greater part of Patagonia, and along the chain 

 of the Andes, at least as far as the northern parts of Peru. 

 The earliest mention of it as observed in Patagonia occurs 

 in the narrative of Antonio Pigafetta, who accompanied 

 Magellan on his celebrated voyage. It is there mentioned 

 that the Patagonians, whom they encountered at Port St. 

 Julian, were clothed with the "Skinne of a Beast sewed 

 together," and that " This Beast (as it seemed vnto vs) had a 

 large head, and great eares like vnto a Mule, with the body 

 of a Camell, and tayle of a Horse." The next reference 

 appears to be in Oliver van Noort's voyage, where it is 

 stated that at Port Desire they " found Beasts like Stagges 

 and Buffals." In Schouten's voyage, at the same locality, 

 " beasts like Harts, with very long neckes, which were afraid 

 of us," are recorded as having been seen ; but the first 

 English navigator to take detailed notice of them, appears to 

 have been Wood, to whose Voyage through the Streights of 

 Magellan, in 1670, I have already referred more than once. 

 In his narrative he observes that at Port Desire " the Land 

 is dry and barren, but there is Plenty of Winnackews or 

 Spanish sheep, which are as large as our English Deer, and 

 wild ; " and that at Port St. Julian " there are many Deer, or 

 Sheep, which the Spaniards call Wyanaques, being a large 

 sort of an Animal, about twelve Hands high. Their Heads 

 and Necks are long like unto a Camel's, but their Bodies and 

 hinder Parts resembling very much those of an Horse. We 

 found them to be very watchful and shy, but we killed seven 

 of them in the Time we lay here, and found their Wool to be 

 the finest in the World. You may see a Drove of six or seven 

 hundred of them together, which, upon their discovering of 

 you, will make a Snort, and neigh like a Horse ; but we 



