348 Mr. Ranking on the Origin 



did not practise either that or exhibiting of skulls. The 

 Mexicans had to contend with powerful warriors, and both 

 customs were found among them. 



The Incas were undoubtedly of the imperial blood of 

 Genghis Khan. Montezuma's ancestors were Moguls, but not 

 of the royal line; this is evident from the awe and reverence 

 with which he mentions the mighty Lord, with whom he 

 arrived in ships from a far distant land *. It appears clearly 

 by Clavigero, b. ii. and others f , that human sacrifices were not 

 practised in Anahuac till the year 1317, in which the Aztecs 

 (who had arrived with the seven tribes in 1178) introduced 

 this horror, instead of killing the prisoners when captured. 

 The first Aztecs were slaves to a petty sovereign, but strong 

 from their numbers and valour J. The other Aztecs who 

 arrived in ships were still at Culiacan, on the Gulf of California; 

 but they advanced in 1324, threw up intrenchments, and 

 founded Tenochtitlan, which was subsequently named Mexico §. 

 The following is a confirmation of the truth of this statement. 

 In reproaching the emperor for permitting human sacrifices, 

 Cortez said, by his interpreters, " It is decreed and established 

 by a law from my king, whom ye confess to derive his descent 

 from him who brought your ancestors to these countries, that 

 whosoever smiteth male or female with the sword, should 

 die the death. Montezuma, with a pale countenance and 

 trembling heart, replied. Hearken, O Cortez ! the ceremonies 

 of sacrifices, left us by tradition from our ancestors, we have 

 hitherto exercised ; but seeing that we have erred, and that it 

 is displeasing to our king, we are greatly delighted to hear 

 it, provided we may persuade the people thereunto. Our 

 ancestors ivho were left here, found these rites to be observed 

 by the inhabitants, so that we have followed the custom of our 

 fathers-in-law and our wives, and you are not to wonder that 



* Hakluyt,, iv. p. 558. 



t Humboldt's Researches, vol. i. p. 216. 



J Clavigero, vol. i p. 1 18, who, for want of knowing this double arrival of Aztecs, 

 has, as he acknowledges, found it quite impossible to reconcile the history wtth 

 known facts. Other authorities have been equally perplexed with this part of the 

 history. 



§ Conquest by Monguls, ch. vii. It is said, that ambassadors on elephantshaA 

 been sent. — Clavigero, Ixxviii. || Charles V. 



