494 
ON THE ABORIGINES 
have only therefore to suppose that tribes having similar 
customs to those now existing on the river Uaupes, in- 
habited the regions where the Amazons were reported 
to have been seen, and we have a rational explanation 
of what has so much puzzled all geographers. The ' 
only objection to this explanation is, that traditions are 
said to exist among the natives, of a nation of women 
without husbands.’’ Of this tradition however I was 
myself unable to obtain any trace, and I can easily ima- 
gine it entirely to have arisen from the suggestions 
and inquiries of Europeans themselves. When the 
story of the Amazons was first made known, it became 
of course a point with all future travellers to verify it, 
or if possible get a glimpse of these warlike ladies. 
The Indians must no doubt have been overwhelmed 
with questions and suggestions about them, and they, 
thinking that the white men must know best, would 
transmit to their descendants and families the idea that 
such a nation did exist in some distant part of the 
country. Succeeding travellers, finding traces of this 
idea among the Indians, would take it as a proof of the 
existence of the Amazons ; instead of being merely the 
effect of a mistake at the first, which had been unknow- 
ingly spread among them by preceding travellers, seek- 
ing to obtain some evidence on the»subject. 
In my communications and inquiries among the In- 
dians on various matters, I have always found the great- 
est caution necessary, to prevent one’s arriving at wrong 
conclusions. They are always apt to affirm that which 
they see you wish to believe, and, when they do not at 
all comprehend your question, will unhesitatingly an- 
