84 Cordova's Voyage of Disco-very 



SECTION IT. 



Of the Inliabitants f the Strait of Mi.gellan, 



The extreme moisture, and consequent unhealthiness, of this' 

 climate, is the cause of the low state of population in tiiis strait. 

 The inhabitants are composed of two races of men, different 

 from each other in every respect \ those wfjo dwell in the 

 plains, and those who inhabit the momitains. The latter, in 

 particular, are in very small numbers; for, from Cape Negro 

 to Cape Forward, \ve only saw one tribe, consisting of forty or 

 fifty persons, who followed the frigate all the way to Cape Re- 

 dondo ; and we are even inclined to believe, that they do not 

 extend to the westward of Cape Forward, as they are in all ap- 

 pearance the same individuals that were met by Bougainville and 

 other French navigators, when they went to the strait to pro- 

 vide wood for their settlement in Falkland Islands. It is not so 

 easy to ascertain the number of the other inijabitants of the 

 Strait, since we only observed about seventy persons, but per- 

 haps there are many more. The plain country at the east end 

 is much better peopled ; but, as there is so striking a difference 

 between these two classes of Americans, we shall give separate 

 accounts of each cla^s. 



The inhabitants of the plain country on the east and nortb 

 part of the Strait of Magellan are the famous Patagonians, who^ 

 under so many different appearances and accounts, have fur- 

 nished such ample room for the investigations and discussions 

 of the literati of Europe, and have for so long a time kept up a 

 high degree of uncertainty respecting the existence of a nation 

 of giants ; in favour of which notion they seemed to offer a moiit 

 convincing argument. 



When the elegant and judicious Dr. Robertson wrote his 

 History of America, he remained undecided on this subject, an 

 account of the great diversity of opinions received in the world; 

 expressing his surprise, that, seeing all animals are found to 

 arrive at their highest perfection only in the temperate climates 

 of the earth, in which the necessaries for their sustenance and 

 preservation are found in the greatest abundance, nature should 

 have reserved for the ungrateful region of Magellan, and for a 

 tribe of wandering savages, to exhibit the highest honour of the 

 human race, distinguishing them by an increase of stature and 

 a vigour of body superior to those of all other men. 



We will not enter on discussions foreign to our purpose, re*. 

 specting the long-disputed stature and strength of the people- 



