Their husbands provided them with all necessaries. Those who were
unmarried, and until marriage, became Amazons, doing all the work on the
island that would, in the ordinary course, be done by men. They were
very strictly reared, and were as hardy as boys. If necessary they could
fight in defence of their country with a courage equal to that displayed
by the bravest warriors. Such were the strange customs of the people on
these two islands as related to me by Sylvia Cervantes.
CHAPTER XXXVII
A TASK IS SET ME
On the day after I was made captive to the people on the Female Island
in the Engano group, I was given an opportunity to observe the customs
which prevail among these Amazons. They appeared to be a happy, healthy
people, nor could I fail to notice the absence of ill-temper and
discord, which may be observed in all communities in which men and
women live together, and where jealousy between the sexes is too often
the cause of lifelong feuds. Here the matrons seemed content to devote
themselves to the rearing of their offspring, who, in return, rendered
heart-whole affection to their mothers. I never witnessed such docility
and loving obedience as was displayed by the children of this island to
those who had the care of them, and while I remained at Engano I never
heard a child cry or saw a woman in tears.
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