know that on the right hand from the indies exists an island called "california" very close to a side of the earthly paradise; and it was populated by black women, without any man existing there, because they lived in the way of the amazons. they had beautiful and robust bodies, and were brave and very strong. their island was the strongest of the world, with its steep cliffs and rocky shores. their weapons were golden and so were the harnesses of the wild beasts that they were accustomed to taming so that they could be ridden, because there was no other metal in the island than gold."