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them respect; that before this period they are commonly treated as the slaves of the men; and that there is no country in the world where the female sex is in general more neglected and despised *.

Among the ancient inhabitants of Attica, the ,women had, in like manner, a share in public deliberations. This custom continued till the reign of Cecrops, when a revolution was produced, of which the following fabulous relation has been given by historians. It is said that, after the building of Athens, Minerva and Neptune became competitors for the honour of giving a name to the city, and that Cecrops called a public assembly of the men and women in order to determine the difference. The women were interested upon the part of Minerva; the men upon that of Neptune; and the former carried the point by the majority of one Soon after, there happened an inundation of the sea, which occasioned much damage, and greatly terrified the inhabitants, who believed that this calamity proceeded from the vengeance of Neptune for the affront he had suffered. . To appease him, they resolved to punish the female sex, by whom the offence was committed, and determined that no woman should for the future be admitted into the public assemblies, nor any child be allowed to bear the name of its mother t.

vote.

* Charlevoix, journal historique de l'Amer. let. 19. See Goguet's origin of laws, &c. vol. 2. book 1.

It may explain this piece of ancient mythology to observe, that in the reign of Cecrops marriage was first established among the Athenians. In consequence of this establishment the children were no longer accustomed to bear the name of their mother, but that of their father, who, from his superior strength and military talents, became the head and governor of the family; and as the influence of the women was thereby greatly diminished, it was to be expected that they should, in a little time, be entirely excluded from those great assemblies which deliberated upon public affairs.

Among the ancient Britons we find, in like manner, that the women were accustomed to vote in the public assemblies. The rude and imperfect institution of marriage, and the community of wives, that anciently took place in Britain, must have prevented the children from acquiring any considerable connexion with their father, and have disposed them to follow the condition of their mother, as well as to support her interest and dignity.

When a woman, by being at the head of a large family, is thus advanced to influence and authority, and becomes a sort of female chief, she naturally maintains a number of servants, and endeavours to live with suitable splendour and magnificence. In proportion to her affluence, she has the greater temptation to indulge her sensual appetites; and, in a period when the sexes are but little accustomed to controul or disguise their inclinations, she

may, in some cases, be led into a correspondence with different male retainers, who happen to reside in her family, and over whom she exercises an authority resembling that of a master.

The above remark may account for what is related by historians; that, in some provinces of the ancient Median empire, it was customary for women to entertain a number of husbands, as in others, it was usual for men to entertain a number of wives or concubines *. The dominion of the ancient Medes comprehended many extensive territories ; in some of which, the inhabitants were extremely barbarous ; in others, no less opulent and luxurious.

This unusual kind of polygamy, if I may be allowed to use that expression, is established at present upon the coast of Malabar t, as well as in some cantons of the Iroquois in North America‡; and though there is no practice more inconsistent with the views and manners of a civilized nation, it has in all probability been adopted by many individuals, in every country where the inhabitahts were unacquainted with the regular institution of mar riage §.

* Strabo, lib. 11.

+ Modern Universal History, vol. 16.-Capt. Hamilton says, that upon the coast of Malabar a woman is not allowed to have more than twelve husbands.

Charlevoix, journal hist.

§ Father Tachard, superior of the French Missionary Jesuits in the East Indies, gives the following account of the

It is highly probable, that the celebrated traditions of the Amazons, inhabiting the most barbarous regions of Scythia, and the relations of a similar people in some parts of America, have arisen from the state of manners now under consideration. Though these accounts are evidently mixed with fable, and appear to contain much exaggeration, we can hardly suppose that they would have been propagated by so many authors, and have created such universal attention, had they been entirely destitute of real foundation *. In a country where marriage is unknown, females are commonly exalted to be the heads of families, or chiefs, and thus acquire an authority, which, notwithstanding their inferiority in strength, may extend to the direction of war, as well as of other transactions. So extraordinary a spectacle as that of a military

inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Calicut. "In this

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country," says he, called Malleami, "there are castes, as "in the rest of India. Most of them observe the same cus"toms; and, in particular, they all entertain a like contempt "for the religion and manners of the Europeans. But a cir"cumstance, that perhaps is not found elsewhere, and which "I myself could scarce believe, is, that among these barba"rians, and especially the noble castes, a woman is allowed, by

the laws, to have several husbands. Some of these have "had ten husbands together, all whom they look upon as so

many slaves that their charms have subjected." Lettres edifiantes et curieuses, translated by Mr Lockman, vol. 1. p.168.

*Vide Petit. dissert, de Amazon.

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enterprise conducted by women, and where the men acted in a subordinate capacity, must have filled the enemy with wonder and astonishment, and might easily give rise to those fictions of a female republic, and of other circumstances equally marvellous, which we meet with in ancient writers.

"Ducit Amazonidum lunatis agmina peltis
"Penthesilea furens, mediisque in millibus ardet,
"Aurea subnectens exsertae cingula mammae,

“Bellatrix, audetque viris concurrere virgo."

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