Magellan's Giants

 17th C. obvious exaggeration of Patagonian natives


Five hundred years ago, the fleet of Magellan was exploring the southern coastline of the Americas -- What is now the border between Argentina and Chile. They encountered a tribe whose male members were taller and heftier than the average European. Pigafetta wrote in his journal:

"Departing thence as far as forty-nine degrees and a half in the Antarctic heavens (as we were in the winter), we entered into a port to pass the winter and remained there two whole months without ever seeing anybody. However, one day, without anyone expecting it, we saw a giant, who was on the shore of the sea, quite naked, and was dancing and leaping, and singing, and whilst singing he put the sand and dust on his head. Our captain sent one of his men towards him, whom he charged to sing and leap like the other to reassure him and show him friendship. This he did, and immediately the sailor led this giant to a little island where the captain was waiting for him; and when he was before us he began to be astonished, and to be afraid, and he raised one. finger on high, thinking that we came from heaven. He was so tall that the tallest of us only came up to his waist;.."

The account spawned many legends about the giants of the coastline which were named as the "patagones" (large feet ) and the region would be known as "Patagonia". Subsequent voyages and investigation later revealed that the natives encountered by Magellan were indeed taller but not as exaggerated as described by many in their accounts.

The legend of Bigfoot and the abominable snowman or the Yeti had created literature or adventure books that describe the unknown etc. Pigafetta's account reminds us also that our taste for new knowledge is sometimes anchored on exaggerated chronicles... or even fake news. Magandang Umaga!

Pasig City. 9. February 2020

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