And its Possible E^^planation. 
263 
alive 01" present. So again, at tlie sources of the Corentyne, where, on 
account of its being hitherto absolutely unknown, a last i^lace of refuge 
had been found for them, my brother learnt nothing more definite nor 
did h(_" discover the Amazons themselves. 
604. In my own opinion, the myth seems to have taken its rise in 
the warlike reputation of the women of certain tribes, particularly the 
Caribs. Columbus in his second voyage bears testimony to the courage of 
the womenfolk of Guadeloupe, by whom he was hindered getting ashore, 
while Peter Martyr d'Anghieri in speaking of these same islanders, says 
that both sexes possessed great strength and skill in the use of the bow 
and other weapons. "When the men ai-e away from their homes, the 
women defend themselves against any sudden surprise attack just as 
valiantly as they do.'' The same was true of the Carib women on the 
mainland of whom Peter Martyr states: *'In the sanguinary opposition 
shown to the Spaniards the women, after the death of tlieir liusl)ands, 
defended themselves with such daring and desperate courage that they 
were taken for Amazons." (Herrera Dec. 1.) (Tliat the Carib Avomen 
even nowadays accompany their men in l)att]e and take an active part in 
the fight was practically ]u'oved in the Negro revolution of 182.3.) 
Columbus had already on his first voyage found fighting women, and 
in them recognised Amazons. What the Old World had said about 
them he believed he was going to find in the New, but even after a search 
of 354 years the discovery has not yet been made.* 
605. Extremely remarkalde things at all events are the green 
Auiazon-stones (Lapis nephriticus) , the Piedi-as hijadas of the Spaniards, 
about which all Indian accounts agree that they come from tlie Amazons. 
Alexander von Humboldt found these stones among the Indians of the 
Rio Negro where they are carrie^l on the neck as amulets for protection 
against fever, and the bites of poisonous snakest : von Martiusi saw them 
on the Rio Negro among the residents at Sylves, while I came across 
them in Georgetown. 
606. It was thi'ough tlie Caribs along the Guiana coast 
that these stones were brouglit into Georgetown where they 
are known as Macnalxi or Cahicot stones. § On the Orinoco 
they are called Macar/na, apparently the same term as the 
former. Formerly the Caribs lirought them to the capital in considerable 
quantities, l>ut very rarely nowadays. I only once liad the opportunity 
of seeing a specimen which was in the possession of a merchant 
there. It corresponded accurately enough not only in shape but also in 
colour with the description given by Alexander von Humlioldt. From 
what the people told me, these stones were formerly often lirought to 
town in the shape of fish and other animals, as well as Avith figures carved 
on their surfaces. 
607. According to Barrerc the Cartibs ti'easured them more than 
gold : such a one was the price of a slave. Sir Walter Raleigh saw them 
* See Alex. v. Humboldt : Voyage aux regions ('quinoxiales, etc. Vol. VIII, Book 
VIII, Ch. XXI [I, page 10. etc. 
tSee Voyage aux reg. Vol. VIII, Book VIII, Ch. XXIII and XXIV, p. 207. 
tSee V. Martius : Reise in Brazilien, etc. Vol. Ill, pp. 1,087, 1,090. 
§ See Koth, op. fit. 
