Ch.V. south AMERICA. 377 



an expedition on it. For had he known any thing 

 further, he doubtless would have etirif'hed his history. 

 with some of the adventures of (he discovery of it ; 

 for if he had not thought them suiFiciently interesting, 

 it is something strange that all the Spanish historians 

 should be in the same w.ny of thinking, and concur to 

 suppress the memory of a Spaniard who^e name was 

 thought worthy to be given to the most distinguished 

 river in the world. But what carries along with it a 

 much greater air of probability is, that Vicente Ya- 

 nez Pinzón, upon his arrival in the river, heard it call- 

 ed by the Indians who inhabited its islands and bunks, 

 Maranon,or some name ofasiniilar sound; andthcnce 

 Vicente Yanez concluded that its name was Maranon. 

 Hence it is undeniable, that, the preference in an- 

 tiquity belongs to the name of Maranon ; and that 

 this name was not given it by Orsua or his men, in 

 allusion to some feuds and confusions among them, 

 called in Spanish marañas, or from being bewildered 

 among the great number of islands, fora)ing enma- 

 rañado, or an intricate labyrinth of channels, accord- 

 ing to the opinion of some historians. 



The second name is that of the river of the Ama- 

 zons, which was given it by Francisco Orellana, 

 from the troops of women who made part of the 

 body of Indians who opposed his passage; and 

 who were not inferior either in courage or the dex- 

 terous use of the bow, to the men ; so that, instead 

 of landing where he intended, he was obliged to keep 

 at a distance from the shore, and often in the middle 

 of the channel, to be out of their reach. However 

 on his return to Spain, and laying before the mini 

 stry an account of his proceedings, and of the f 

 male warriors that opposed him, he was by pate: 

 created governor of these parts, in recompea^c, < 

 it was expressed, for his having subdued the.Aina 

 zons: and ever since the river has been called' b 

 )ihat name. 



So '.I 



