/sci/ - Science & Math

In the documentary "What do we *bleep* do we know?!!", The movie talked about our perception and the uncertainty of that perception. There was a scene that I wanted to discuss, where an Indian was looking off shore.

He was standing there for a while and only saw ocean, but then all of a sudden Christopher Columbus' shit appeared because the Indian never saw a Carrack ship before.

So here is the question I pose to /sci/, is it plausible that the Indians perception was so unfamiliar with the ship that it was total INVISIBLE. Or do you think that the Indian saw the ship, and simply didn't know what it was until people started jumping out.

Here is the video if anyone wants to see it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQcBQc3oaKg