of the American Indians. 341 



{Hennepin, Voy. dansVAmer. p. 539, 580, 587, 590).— A^ofe. 

 This remarkable identification with the Calmucs, respecting 

 the nose, has been found since the last Journal was published. 

 (See p. 149.) The Calmucs have Schamanes. They take in 

 each hand some roots, which they light, and sing, Dshi eio io 

 io, become quite furious, and then answer questions about lost 

 property and predictions. (Pallas^ i. 570). 



Before the boat could reach the land (at Guadaloupe), a 

 large number of resolute females issued from the woods armed 

 with bows and arrows, preparing to oppose any descent upon 

 their shores. Having explained to these Amazons that we 

 only sought provisions in exchange for articles of great value, 

 they referred us to their husbands at the north end of the island. 

 The warlike spirit of these armed bands led Columbus into the 

 erroneous idea that these islands were inhabited entirely by 

 Carib women. The Spaniards were told that the Caribs deprive 

 their young male prisoners of their virility, to rear them to 

 man's estate, and fatten them for food. We would fain at- 

 tribute these accounts to mistakes, but they are too posi- 

 tively affirmed by respectable writers. (Washington Irving, 

 ii. 18, 318.) — Note. The women of Great Bucharia go to the 

 wars with their husbands, (Abul Ghazi, notes, p. 460). Dur- 

 getti, queen of Gurrah, and famous for her beauty, was mounted 

 in a castle upon an elephant, clothed in armour, with a helmet 

 upon her head, a lance in her hand, and a bow and quiver. 

 She led on 1500 elephants and 8000 horse, and laid 600 Mo- 

 gul horse dead, and then pursued the rest till evening, with 

 great slaughter. (Dow's Hindostan, A. D. 1564.) Aladdin, 

 Sultan of Sumatra, had a hundred galleys, some of which carry 

 400 men. The admiral was a woman. {Harrises Voij. vol. i. 

 145.) The king of the city of Bangalla has 2000 elephants, 

 and a great army. His chief guard consists of women, as in 

 Java, Sumatra, and Fransiane ; they are valiant, expert horse 

 riders and vaulters, and use the scimitar, buckler, and battle- 

 axe dexterously. All prisoners taken as slaves are emascu- 

 lated, instructed, and sold young, for 80 ducats, to guard their 

 women, and for managing business. They are rather fair than 

 black. (See Marsden's Marco Polo, p. 452. fVars and Sports, 

 p. 265.) 



