THE MODERN AMAZONS. 21 



tory of the nations on the Oroonoko. His terms are 

 as follow : 



<c I once afked the Ouaguis, a nation inhabiting on 

 *' the Cuccivero, very particularly concerning the 

 " other nations that dwell on the banks and in the 

 46 proximity of this not inconllderable river. They 

 "named me feveral; and, amongft others, the Ai- 

 i( cheam-benano. As I under Iran d the language, I 



immediately knew that term implied a nadon com- 

 *' pofed entirely of women. However, I put on a 

 <c look of furprife, and (aid, A nation merely of wo- 

 *■* men ! how is that poliible? The Indian upon ti is 

 ic allured me, that it actually was io ; and. added that 

 H they were extremely warlike, and, inflead of fpin* 

 " ning cotton, like other women, they exerciied 

 44 themfelves with hand-guns and other weapons. Once 

 M in the year they admit the vifits of men ; and thefe 

 " are of the nation of the Vocheari, who dwell in 

 u their neighbourhood. So foon as they find them- 

 ?* felves pregnant, they make the men prelents of 

 Si arms, and lend them awav. On their delivery, they 

 * c flay the male children, and bring up the daughters 

 46 for propagating their race." 



This narrative M. Gilii had from feveral Indians, 

 and all agreed in this, that the relidence of the Ama- 

 zons was in the very fame region, where the la\ages, 

 whofe accounts la Condamme delivers, uniformly 

 placed them. 



Accordingly, we fee that alfo the hifcory of the 

 modern Amazons relts upon report. In the mean time, 

 the tefbimonies of fuch a number of nations, who, for 



c 3 the 



