FORMER ACCOUNTS OF PATAGONIANS. 



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a heap of stones, describe the skeletons as measuring ten or 

 eleven feet in length, the skulls of which we could put on our 

 heads in the manner of helmets ! 



The Nodales did not see any people on the northern side of 

 the Strait ; those with whom they communicated were natives 

 of Tierra del Fuego, of whose form no particular notice is 

 taken. 



Sir John Narborough saw Indians at Port San Julian, and 

 describes them as " people of a middling stature : well-shaped. 

 * * * Mr. Wood was taller than any of them.'' He also 

 had an interview with nineteen natives upon Elizabeth Island, 

 but they were Fuegians. 



In the year 1741, Patagonian Indians were seen by Bulkley 

 and his companions. They were mounted on horses, or mules, 

 which is the first notice we have of their possessing those 

 animals. 



Duclos de Guyot, in the year 1766, had an interview with 

 seven Patagonian Indians, who were mounted on horses 

 equipped with saddles, bridles, and stirrups. The shortest of 

 the men measured five feet eleven inches and a quarter English. 

 The others were considerably taller. Their chief or leader 

 they called ' Capitan.' 



Bougainville, in 1767, landed amongst the Patagonians. Of 

 their size he remarks : " They have a fine shape; among those 

 whom we saw, not one was below five feet ten inches and a 

 quarter (English), nor above six feet two inches and a half in 

 height. Their gigantic appearance arises from their pro- 

 digiously broad shoulders, the size of their heads, and the 

 thickness of all their limbs. They are robust and well fed : 

 their nerves are braced and their muscles strong, and sufficiently 

 hard, &c." This is an excellent account ; but how different is 

 that of Commodore Byron, who says, One of them, who 

 afterwards appeared to be chief, came towards me ; he was of 

 gigantic stature, and seemed to realise the tales of monsters in 

 a human shape : he had the skin of some wild beast thrown 

 over his shoulders, as a Scotch Highlander wears his plaid, 

 and was painted so as to make the most hideous appearance I 



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