History of a Voyage to the Falkland Islands

In every century, it has been observed that, ordinarily, to be the strongest signifies being the most unjust.

Magellan, the first mariner who navigated the coasts of Patagonia, saw with his own eyes some of those giants so dreaded in the New World (m), but his artillery restrained

...wanted to enjoy, etc. The Inca Referring to the rulers of the Incan Empire did not observe the proportions of his giants any better than Muhammad did those of his angel who had seventy thousand heads: but because the Peruvians exaggerated, it does not follow that they saw nothing.

(m) The account of the Knight Pigafetta Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler of Magellan's voyage, who was on Magellan's vessel and who edited his Voyage, is too well-detailed for one to believe its author was either a dupe or a rogue. "A giant came to us, singing, dancing, and throwing dust upon his head. The Captain ordered the same thing to be done. These gestures reassured the savage. He came to us on a small island, showing the greatest marks of surprise at our sight:

them, and the thunder of the Europeans was enough to make the Titans of America A classical reference to the giants of Greek mythology, used here to describe the tall Patagonians tremble.

he raised a finger toward Heaven, meaning to say that we came from there. Our people hardly reached his waist. Magellan had him given food and drink. A mirror was presented to him; he was so terrified to see his face there that, with a leap backward, he threw four of our men to the ground. His companions appeared to be ten palms high, about seven feet; they were signaled to come to the vessels: then they made their women, of whom they appeared jealous, mount upon animals shaped like donkeys, and sent them away. Another time, six of these savages appeared on the shore, signaling that they wished to come to the vessels; which gave us great pleasure. The skiff skiff: a small boat used for rowing or sailing, often carried by a larger ship was sent to fetch them. They boarded the flagship, where the General had a cauldron of porridge served to them, large enough to satisfy twenty sailors. They ate it all; likewise, the smallest among them was taller than the tallest of us. As soon as they had eaten, they asked to be returned to shore. These peoples have no fixed houses; they make...

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