There are legends of large, wild, ape-like creatures all over the world, from Sasquatch to the Yowie to the Yeti. In South America, these legends are called Maricoxi. British explorer Percy Fawcett walked through the rain forests of South America for years, and made notes of the stories he heard about the Maricoxi.
These creatures were apparently called Maricoxis by the Maxubis. They dwelt to their northeast. Due east there were said to be another group of short, black people, covered with hair, who were truly cannibalistic and hunted humans for food, cooking the bodies over a fire on a bamboo spit and tearing off the meat. These the Maxubis regarded as merely loathsome and lowly people. On a later trip, Colonel Fawcett was told of an “ape-people” who lived in holes in the ground, were also covered with dark hair, and were nocturnal, so that they were known in surrounding areas as the Morcegos or Bat-People. These types are called Cabelludos or “Hairy People” by the Spanish-speaking, and Tatus, or armadillos, by several Amerindian groups because they live in holes like those animals. Fawcett also records forest Amerinds as telling him that the Morcegos have an incredibly well-developed sense of smell which prompts even these acute hunters to suggest that they have some “sixth sense.”
After being steeped in such stories, it was inevitable that Fawcett would encounter such creatures. According to Fawcett's meticulous notes, his expedition was surrounded by hairy man-like beings, one who eventually drew a bow and arrow on Fawcett. Read that story at Mysterious Universe. -via Strange Company