Did Percy Fawcett see a tribe of hairy men?

[rowbe]

I've been researching and reading a fair bit about Percy Fawcett of late - he vanished exploring the Amazon around 1925. I came across some statements regarding Fawcett's notes:

Fawcett described one tribe he encountered as “large, hairy men, with exceptionally long arms, and with forehead sloping back from pronounced eye ridges — men of a very primitive kind; villainous savages; great apelike brutes who looked as if they had scarcely evolved beyond the level of beasts.”

I wonder did he actually report seeing a tribe of hairy ones.

[Dean Harrison]

Hi Rowbe,

Where did you read this?


DMH

[Slats]

Hey guys
I recall from a doco that it turned out to be a hoax, it's the picture of the supposed hairy man sitting on the box with it's head propped up by a stick. I believe it was just a spider monkey.

[Dean Harrison]

Hi Slats,

This was Deloys Ape from 1920, which was most likely a Spider Monkey. Highly dubious.

I have read Exploration Fawcett from cover to cover. I can’t recall mention of the hairymen. It’s an amazing read that I highly recommend. Some of the stories are so incredible, it makes one wonder if some may have been tall tales in an attempt to retain his funding.

We will never know.



DMH

[Bluedog]

https://www.cosmicpolymath.com/the-vict ... wcett.html.
Apparently he did. Fawcett made many claims however fanciful and dubious some may seem there was no one who could really dispute them. I do agree with Dean that after many expeditions to South America without alot to show he may have been struggling for funding and appearances and newspaper interviews may have helped with this, fanciful tales to get bums on seats???

[rowbe]

Hi Dean, the mention of hairy men by Fawcett was not in Operation Fawcett, it was in his notes/diaries. Now I cannot prove that this is true as I have not seen the actual notes. There is mention of his other diary notes in the book "The Lost City of Z" which is an account of his explorations. Now I must also point out that there have been some conjecture whether all accounts are true in this book. I have found these same quotes elsewhere on the net.
I have however, found these accounts at other sites on the net and also a historian (I actually met on a cruise) who acknowledged the sighting (he did not have proof either, but was aware of the account). The notes also stated that the hairymen also had pig-like eyes and brandished bows and arrows - you would think that if they had bows and arrows, the tribe in question may not have been "hairymen", they definitely weren't monkeys.

I also have heard of the South American equivalent of the Yowie/Sasquatch (not sure of name) - but you would think, as large as the Amazon is and how remote it is, there possibly would be an equivalent "hairyman". Whether it is true or not, the description is fairly close (bar the bows and arrows).

I will see if I can get some more info - just saw it and thought I would post. It is an interesting story.

[rowbe]

Meant to say "Exploration Fawcett".

Also, in relation to the truth associated with Fawcett's finds, etc. Yes he did not find "Z" but he did map a considerable amount of area - the job he was originally employed to complete - he just got hooked. Although he was liked by factions within the Royal Geographical Society, he also made a number of enemies during the process. Unfortunately, potential untruths was rampant on both sides.

He was so worried about someone beating him to the "lost city", became so paranoid he provided false exploration starting/end points so other potential explorers did not know his route(s). Ultimately this resulted in those that went to the Amazon to find him after he went missing, starting in the wrong place.

Although I personally don't believe he sighted a tribe of (hairymen), the description of the hairymen sighting is uncanny. I do know that not much emphasis was placed on that sighting by Fawcett - however he did say he shot a 60 odd foot Anaconda, the largest reported anaconda being twenty-sixish feet - again dubious. However, others beastie sightings in the Crypto world does suggest anything is possible, even if it sounds dubious at the time.

[Slats]

Dean,
Right on the money Deloys Ape

Bluedog
Thanks for the link it was a great read.
I wonder if they were seeing remnants of a Titanaboa population rather than giant Anaconda.

[rowbe]

For those that are interested, their is a site that has quite a bit of info regarding Percy Fawcett's explorations, etc: http://www.fawcettadventure.com/fawcett-journal.html

Interestingly, along with a report of hairy men sighting, he wrote about sighting a 60 foot anaconda and a two nose dog - both of which were met with doubt. Apparently, there is a breed of dog with two noses (albeit a bridge between the two nostrils. Also, a sighting of a larger anaconda and aerial photograph (yet to be confirmed). If these sightings are proved and confirmed then maybe he did see a form of hairy men.

There is a lot of information on the net regarding Percy Fawcett, much of it dubious. The RGS has quite a lot on documents pertaining to the Fawcett expeditions that are not in the public domain - it is interesting. However, there is seemingly a lot he wrote about that has come to fruition. In addition, they are finding remnants of a greater Amazon civilisation - just not in stone.

I find it an interesting side track from yowie research.