LEGEND OP 1'ltE AMAZONS. 
401 
formed a separate liorde. Not knowing any of the tongues 
spoken on the Orinoco and the llio 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. I 
shall, however, quote a modern testimony of some weight, 
that of Bather 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,! and other Aveapons of war. They admit, once a 
year, the men of the neighbouring nation of Vokearos into 
their society, and send them back Avitk presents. All the 
male children bom 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 
Grili 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 1 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, Avearied 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 Avomen may have 
acquired some power in one part of Guiana. 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 Avere propagated toward the north. Before the 
* In Italian, Acc/iirecolti, Pajuri, and Aic/ieam-bmano. 
+ Long tubes made from a hollow cane, which the natives use to propa? 
their poisoned arrows. 
VOL. IX. 2 D 
