PATAGONIANS. 



283 



of a nation on this coast, very superior in height 

 and bulk to the natives of our hemisphere. 



The celebrated Admiral Byron met with 

 these people, and the following relation is 

 given by one of his officers : 



" The admiral went ashore, made the savages 

 sit down, and distributed toys among them. 

 Their size was extraordinary, for when sitting, 

 they were almost as tall as the admiral when 

 standing up. Their average height appeared 

 eight English feet, and the highest were nine 

 feet and more." 



In 1766 a very particular account is given 

 of the Patagonians, by Duclos Guyot, in his 

 voyage to that country. The French were re- 

 ceived by the natives with songs and solemn 

 speeches, in the manner of the South Sea 

 Islanders. After this manifestation of hospi- 

 tality peculiar to savages, they led their guests 



