A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 10 | Page 6

colour of his skin was yellow,
and his hair was white. His apparel consisted of the skin of a beast,
clumsily sewed together, covering his whole body and limbs from head
to foot. The beast of which this was the skin, was as strange as the
wearer, being neither mule, horse, nor camel, but partaking of all three,
having the ears of a mule, the tail of a horse, and the body shaped like a
camel. The arms of this savage consisted of a stout bow, having for a
string the gut or sinew of that strange beast; and the arrows were tipped
with sharp stones, instead of iron heads.
The admiral made this man be presented with meat and drink, of which
he readily partook, and seemed to enjoy himself very comfortably, till
happening to see himself in a mirror which was given him among other
toys, he was so frightened that he started back and overturned two of
the men, and did not easily recover his composure. This giant fared so
well, that several others came to visit the ships, and one of them
behaved with so much familiarity and good humour, that the Europeans
were much pleased with him. This person shewed them one of the
beasts in the skins of which they were cloathed, from which the
foregoing description must have been taken.[3] Being desirous to make
prisoners of some of these giants, Magellan gave orders for this
purpose to some of his crew. Accordingly, while amusing them with
toys, they put iron shackles on their legs, which at first they conceived
had been fine ornaments like the rest, and seemed pleased with their
jingling sound, till they found themselves hampered and betrayed. They
then fell a bellowing like bulls, and imploring the aid of Setebos in this
extremity, whom they must therefore have conceived some good and
compassionate being, as it is not to be conceived they would crave

relief from an evil spirit. Yet the voyagers reported strange things, of
horrible forms and appearances frequently seen among these people,
such as horned demons with long shaggy hair, throwing out fire before
and behind: But these seem mere dreams or fables.
[Footnote 3: This must have been a Lama, Paca, or Chilihueque, of the
camel genus, vulgarly called Peruvian sheep.--E.]
Most of the natives of this country were dressed in the skins of beasts,
similarly to the one who first visited them. Their hair was short, yet tied
up by a cotton lace or string. They had no fixed dwellings, but used
certain moveable huts or tents, constructed of skins similar to those in
which they were cloathed, which they carry with them from place to
place, as they roam about the country. What flesh they are able to
procure, they devour quite raw without any kind of cookery, besides
which their chief article of food is a sweet root, which they name
_capar._ The voyagers report that these savages were very jealous of
their women; yet do not mention having seen any. Their practice of
physic consists in bleeding and vomiting: The former being performed
by giving a good chop with some edge tool to the part affected; and the
latter is excited by thrusting an arrow half a yard down the throat of the
patient. These people, to whom Magellan gave the name of Patagons,
are so strong, that when one only was attempted to be made prisoner of
by nine Spaniards, he tired them all; and, though they got him down,
and even bound his hands, he freed himself from his bonds, and got
away, in spite of every endeavour to detain him. Besides capar, the
name of a root already mentioned, and which likewise they applied to
the bread or ship's biscuit given them by the Spaniards, the only words
reported of their language are ali water, amel black, cheiche red,
cherecai red cloth; and Setebos and Cheleule are the names of two
beings to whom they pay religious respect, Setebos being the supreme,
and Cheleule an inferior deity.
The haven in which they remained there five months, was named by
Magellan, Port St Julian, of which and the surrounding country they
took solemn possession for the crown of Spain, erecting a cross as a
signal of sovereignty. But the principal reason of this long stay was in

consequence of a mutiny which broke out, not only among the common
men, but was even joined or fomented rather by some of the captains,
particularly by Don Luis de Mendoza, on whom Magellan had placed
great reliance. On this occasion Magellan acted with much spirit; for,
having reduced the mutineers to obedience, he brought their ringleaders
to trial for plotting against his life; hanged Don Luis de Mendoza and a
few others of the