The inferiority of the women, in this re-
fpect, may be eafily imagined. From thdr
iituatJon, indeed, they naturally acquire a de»
gree of firmnefs and intrepidity which appears
furprifing to thofe wiio are only acquainted
with the manners of poliflied nations. It is
ufual for them to accompany the men in their
4 expedi-



RANKS IN SOCIE'TY^ it

<!xpeditidns either for hiinting or for war ;"
^nd it fbmctlmcisi happens that individuals are
fed, from the general fpirit of the tiroes, to
epgage in battle, and even to gain a reputation
by their exploits. From particular ihftances
^f this, exaggerated by the wonder and afto-
liiflinieht \<^hich they produced, have probably
arifen tHtjfe fiftitious accounts of Amazons, ill
fliffereftfc ctrtiritries, who are faid to have dif-
tinguifhed £hemfdves by their pillitairy prow-
cfs. But whatever may have happened iii
foifte extraordinary cafes, we may venture to
conclude that the female charafteris by no
iiifeanS fuited to thofe martial employments ;
krid that, in barbarous as well as in refinecf
periods, the women are, for the moft part,
in<;apable of vying with the other fex in point
of ftrength and courage. Their ■ attention
tkerefore is generally limited to an humbler
province. It falls upon them to manage all
the inferior concerns of the houfliold ; and t6
petform thofe domeftic offices \yhich the fe-
vera! circumftances pf the family may require :
offices which, however ufeful, yet requiring
little dexterity or Ikill, arid being attended
with no exertion of dii&ult talents, are nz^

B 3 turally



9#.
