LEGEND OF THE AMAZONS. 401 



formed a separate horde. Not knowing any of the tonguea 

 spoken on the Orinoco and the Eio Negro, I could learn 

 nothing certain respecting the popular traditions of the 

 women without husbands, or the origin of the green stones, 

 which are believed to be intimately connected with them. 1 

 shall, however, quote a modern testimony of some weight, 

 that of Father Grili. " Upon inquiring," says this well- 

 informed missionary, of a Quaqua Indian, what nations 

 inhabited the Bio Cuchivero, he named to me the Achiri- 

 gotos, the Pajuros, and the Aikeambenanos.* Being well 

 acquainted," pursues he, " with the Tamanac tongue, I 

 instantly comprehended the sense of this last word, which is 

 a compound, and signifies ' women living alone.' The Indian 

 confirmed my observation, and related that the Aikeambe- 

 nanos were a community of women, who manufactured blow- 

 tubes,t and other weapons of war. They admit, once a 

 year, the men of the neighbouring nation of Vokearos into 

 their society, and send them back with presents. All the 

 male children born in this horde of women are killed in their 

 infancy." This history seems framed on the traditions 

 which circulate among the Indians of the Maranon, and 

 among the Caribs; yet the Quaqua Indian, of whom Father 

 Gili speaks, was ignorant of the Castilian language; he had 

 never had any communication with white men; and certainly 

 knew not, that south of the Orinoco there existed another 

 river, called the river of the * Aikeambenanos,' or ' Amazons.' 

 What must we conclude from this narration of the old 

 missionary of Encaramada? Not that there are Amazons on 

 the banks of the Cuchivero, but that women in different 

 parts of America, wearied of the state of slavery in which 

 they were held by the men, united themselves together; that 

 the desire of preserving their independence rendered them 

 warriors; and that they received visits from a neighbouring 

 and friendly horde. This society of women may have 

 acquired some power in one part of Gruiana. The Caribs of 

 the continent held intercourse with those of the islands; and 

 no doubt in this way the traditions of the Maranon and the 

 Orinoco were propagated toward the north. Before the 



* In Italian, Acchirecolti, Paj*ri, and Aicheam-benar>o. 

 t Long tubes made from a hollow cane, which the natives use to propel 

 their poisoned arrows. 



VOL. II. 2 D 



