t to the strangers coming among them,
although they kept their women out of the way. They were all dressed
like those who came on board, in the skins of beasts, and their hair was
short or tied up by a string. They had apparently no fixed dwellings,
but lived in huts covered with skins and supported by poles, so that
they could easily be moved. They were not seen to cook their food, but
ate meat raw, with a sweet root called capar, which name they applied to
the ship's biscuit offered them.

The only remedies they were seen to use when sick was bleeding and
vomiting. The former was performed by giving a chop with an edge tool
to the part afflicted, while the latter was produced by thrusting an
arrow down the throat of the patient.

The voyagers, ignorant and superstitious themselves, declared that they
saw among the savages on shore all sorts of strange creatures of
horrible forms, such as horned demons, with long shaggy hair, throwing
out fire before and behind, which especially made their appearance when
the natives were dying.

The Captain had a great wish to secure some females as companions to the
men, that a race of giants might be introduced into Europe; but though
the ladies were far from attractive, their husbands exhibited great
jealousy, and would not allow them to appear. It was resolved,
therefore, to capture two of their principal men, that they might be
exchanged for women.

After a time the natives, having overcome their fears, again mixed
freely with their visitors. On one occasion a number of Spaniards had
gone on shore, when two natives came among them, upon whom they threw
themselves, nine Spaniards seizing one man, while a number of others
brought his companion to the ground. Some of the Spaniards having ropes
ready, had begun to bind the hands of one of their captives, but he
struggled so violently, at the same time shouting out for assistance,
that he managed to break loose from them, and, striking out right and
left, sent them flying in all directions; then bursting away, he took to
flight, the other soon afterwards following his example. One of the
Spaniards pursuing was shot by an arrow. The rest fired at the
fugitives, but could not hit them, for instead of running along in a
straight line, they kept leaping from side to side at a rate equal to
that of a horse at full gallop.

From the name of Patagons or Patagonians, which the natives have ever
since borne, their country was ca