OF THE PATAGONIANS. 
Magellan's defcription of them, they appear to have been the 
animals now known by the name of Lama. 
T Hess interviews ended with the captivating two of the people, 
who were carried away in two different fhips; but as foon as 
they arrived in the hot climate each of them died. 
I pwetz the longer on this account, as it appears extremely 
deferving of credit; as the courage of Magellan made him in- 
capable of giving an exaggerated account through the influence 
of fear: nor could there be any miitake about the height, as 
he had not only a long intercourfe with them, but the actual 
poffeffion of two, for a very confiderable fpace of time *. 
Ir was Magellan who firft gave them the name of Patagons, 
becaufe they wore a fort of flipper made of the fkin of animals: 
Tellement, fays M. de Broffe+, quils, paroiffoit avoir des pattes de 
Bétes. 
In 1525, Garcia de Louifa faw, within the ftreights of Magel- 
Jan, favages of a very great ftature, but he does not particularife 
their height. 
Arter Louifa the fame ftreights were pafled in 1535 by Simox 
de Alcazova, and attempted in 1540, by Alphonfo de Camargo, but 
without being vifited by our tall people. 
Tue fame happened to our countryman fir Francis Drake; but, 
becaufe it was not the fortune of that able and popular feaman 
* Vide Ramuffos Coll. Voyages, Venice 1550; alfo the letter of Maximilian 
Tranfylvanus, Sec. to Charles V. and in the 1ft vol. p. 376. A. and B. 
+ This account (as well as the others where I do not quote my authority} 
are taken from that judicious writer M.de Brofe. 
H tG 
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