Introduction

Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Yowie, Yeti... the idea that monstrous man-apes lurk in the remot e forests and high mountain valleys of the world is an enduring and popular one. In North America, hardly a week goes by without report of a fresh encounter with the legendary Sasquatch.

In 1793 the Boston Gazette reported a sighting of what the Cherokee call a ''chickly cuddly'' or ''hairy man thing''. In 1818 the Watchman recorded the visit of a ''Wild Man of the Woods''. Ever since, hundreds of eyewitness accounts of a giant, elusive beast that stands upright on its hind legs have come flooding in.

This book takes a fresh look at the man-apes reported to exist in North America, South America, Australia, the Himalayas and Central Asia. It examines historic sightings as well as up-to-date ones - and poses the crucial question: are they really out there?