igantic have been seen in the
country since, this statement must be doubted. The Admiral welcomed him
on board, and directed that meat and drink should be given him, of which
he willingly partook, and seemed to enjoy himself. Various toys were
shown him, and among them was a mirror, in which, happening to see
himself, he was so frightened that, starting back, he capsized two of
the crew, and did not easily recover his composure.

His dress, which was composed of several skins, was wrapped round his
body from his head to his ankles. On his feet he wore shoes or boots of
the same material as his robe, so roughly made as to be almost round,
from which circumstance the Spaniards called him Patagon, or Big-footed,
a name they applied to all the people of that country.

He was so well treated that on returning on shore he induced several of
his countrymen to visit the ships, and one of them especially behaved
with so much good humour, and was so completely at his ease, that he won
the regard of the voyagers. To show his gratitude, he brought them off
an animal, from the skin of which, he let them understand, the robe he
wore was composed. The voyagers had never seen any creature like it
before, and described it as a beast which was 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. He was probably a guanaco
or llama, commonly known as the Peruvian sheep. The Admiral, wishing to
make prisoners of some of these big fellows, gave orders to his crew to
secure them. Accordingly, while the poor savages were being amused with
toys put into their hands, which they grasped eagerly, the Spaniards put
iron shackles on the legs of two of them, persuading the men that they
were fine ornaments, like the rest of the things shown them. They
appeared highly pleased with the jingling sound they produced when
struck together, until they suddenly found themselves hampered and
betrayed, on which they began bellowing like bulls, and shouting to
their god--_Setebos_--for assistance. From this Shakespeare has
undoubtedly taken the name of the demon _Setebos_, introduced in the
play of the "Tempest." This act of treachery was not calculated to
raise the Spaniards in the opinion of the natives. One of the prisoners
remained on board the Admiral's ship, while his companion was carried to
another for safe keeping.

In spite of this they did not objec