The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-10-15
TIE ORIGINAL PATAcoNlANs.
Recently Discovered Facts Regarding the
First decentralization of the Globe.

THE ORIGINAL PATAcoNIANs.
Recently Discovered Facts Regarding the
First Circumnavigation of the Globe.
Magellan's first American port was
the Bay of Rio Janeiro, to which he
gave the name of Santa Lucia. 1t had
been explored by Lopez four years be-
fore, and even before that time. There
was one Portuguese trader settled on
an island in the bay, the pioneer set
tier of the great city which stands there
to-day. The whole crew were de-
lighted with the luxuries of the climate
and the cordiality of the simple natives.
You can buy six hens for a king of
diamonds" says Pigafetla, the anus
ing historian of the voyage. They
are not Christians, but they are not
idolaters, for they adore nothing; in
stinct is their only law" This is his
summary account of their religious
habit and condition, an account proved
to be quite inadequate by more care
full inquiries. After thirteen days
spent in this bay the squadron resumed
its voyage of discovery.
They looked in at the great estuary
of the river La Plata; but Soils, who
had lost his life there, had already dis
covered that this was not passage to
the Pacific. Still coasting southwark,
they sighted and perhaps landed on
the Island of Penguins and the Island
of Sea Lions, and here were struck by
a terrible storm. Not far from these
islands, on the shore of the continent,
they discovered the Bay of San Julian,
and here Magellan determined to
winter.
Magellan made the ships secure at
the shore, built a forge and storehouse,
and some huts for barracks. and estab-
lished a little observatory, where
Andres San Martin determined the lat
itude as 40 deg. IS min. Longitude,
in those times. they could not well
determine.
While they were thus occupied a
little party of natives appeared, and
after some friendly signaling one or
more of them came on board. Magel-
Ian directed sailor to land, and to
initiate every gesture of the first who
appeared, as token of friendship.
The man acted his part so well that
the gentle savage was propitiated, and
readily came to an interview. On this
or another occasion six Indians con-
sented to go on board the flagship.
Their Spanish hosts gave them kettle
full of biscuits-enough for twenty
men, in the Castilian measure of appe-
tite. But the hungry Indians devoured
1t all. Two, at least, of these visitors
were of unusual size. The Spaniards
only came up to their girdles. But, as
the children's books say, these were
friendly giarts." One of them saw
the sailors throwing rats overheard,
and begged that he might have them
for his own. Afterward he regularly
received the rats caught on board the
ships as daily perquisite. Before
their voyage was over, Magellan's
sailors were glad enough to follow his
example, and to place these fellow
voyagers on their bill of fare at the
rate of a ducat apiece.
This party of six-and a party of
nine seen at another time-which may
have included part or all of the first
. six, are all of the natives whom Magel-
Ian and his men ever saw OF these,
it seems certain that two at least were
very large. All the Indians wore
large shoes, which they stuffed with
straw for warmth. From this custom
the Spaniards gave them the name of
PGtGgons. meaning in Spanish those
was about to sail, he determined to
carry the two giants home as curiosi-
ties. 1t was impossible to overpower
either of them in fair contest, and he
resorted to treachery, which can only
be excused on the theory of the
Spaniards at that time that all these
savages were to be ranked among
brutes, over whom Christian men had
certain special rights. The two friendly
giants, being about to leave the ships,
Magellan loaded them with presents.
He gave them knives, mirrors and
glass trinKets, so that their hands were
full, then he. offered to each chain.
They were passionately fond of iron,
but could not take the chains from
very embarrassment of riches. With
their full consent. therefore, Magellan
bade the smith fasten the chains to
their legs by the manacles which were
attached to them. When it was too
late the poor giants found, as so MANY
wiser men have found. that they had
accepted too many presents, and that
In their very wealth they were made
slaves. When they discovered this
they were wild with rage, and vainly
called on their god Sete6os to come to
their succor.
Not satisfied with this success, Ma
gellan tried to make more captives.
He directed niue of his strongest men
to compel two of the Indians to take
them to the station where their women
were. One of them escaped, but the
other was subdued after a hard con-
fiict. He consented to lead them to
the wives of the two prisoners. When
the women heard of the fate of their
lords they uttered such screams that
they were heard at the ships far away.
The Spaniards had such superiority in
numbers that they expected the next
morning to carry the Indian women
and their children on board ship. But
meanwhile two Indian men came, who
spent the night with them, and at day
break the whole party escaped to-
gether. In their flight they killed one
OF the Spaniards with poisoned arrow.
Magellan sent large party on shore
and buried him.
And so they parted-the Spaniards
and the Patagonians. The two giants
were separated; one was placed on the
Trinidad, and the other on the SAINT
antonio. 1t was from these expe-
riences that Europe took the notion,
which is, perhaps, not yet fully dis
PEELED, that Patagonia was region. OF
giants.-Eds0ard Egerett Hale, in Har-
per's Magazine.
Not SO Dull After All. y