The histories of Herodotus;

246 HERODOTUS—BOOK IV, MELPOMENE [110-114
lake Maeotis, but Cremni belongs to the territory of the free
Scythians. Here the Amazons, landing from the vessels,
marched to the inhabited parts and seized the first herd of
horses they happened to fall in with, and mounting on them,
plundered the lands of the Scythians. The Scythians knew
not what to make of the matter ; for they were not acquainted
either with their language, dress, or nation, but wondered
whence they had come. They conjectured that they were
men of the same stature, they therefore gave them battle;
but after the battle the Scythians got possession of the dead,
and so discovered that they were women. On deliberation,
therefore, they resolved on no account to kill them any more,
but to send out to them the youngest of their own party,
guessing a number equal to theirs ; these were to encamp near
them, and do the same as they did ; should the Amazons pursue
them, they were not to fight but fly ; and when they halted
were to come and encamp near them. The Scythians resolved
on this out of a desire to have children by these women. The
young men, being despatched, did as they were ordered:
when the Amazons found that they had not come to hurt
them, they let them alone ; and they drew one camp nearer
to the other every day. The youths, as well as the Amazons,
had nothing except their arms and horses, but obtained their
subsistence in the same way that the Amazons did, by hunting
and pillage. The Amazons about midday were wont to
do as follows : They separated themselves into parties of one
and two, at a distance from each other, being dispersed for
the purpose of easing themselves. The Scythians observing
this, did the same ; and one of them drew near one of the
Amazons who was alone ; and she did not repel him, but suffered
him to enjoy her person. She could not speak to him,
because they did not understand each other, but she made
signs to him by her hand to come the next day to the same
place, and to bring another with him, signifying that they
should be two, and she would bring another with her. When
the youth departed, he related this to the rest, and on the next
day he himself went to the place, and took another with him,
and found the Amazon with a companion waiting for him.
The rest of the youths, when they heard this, conciliated the
rest of the Amazons. Afterward, having joined their camps,
they lived together, each having for his wife the person he
first attached himself to. The men were not able to learn
the language of the women, but the women soon attained
that of the men. When, therefore, they understood one another,
the men spoke to the Amazons as follows : " We have