78 HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. i, 



gentleness in peace, formed a national history,;}; 

 which was at once a tribute of gratitude to the de- 

 ceased monarch, and a lesson to the living. Nor 

 could any thing have been more instructive to the 

 rising generation than this institution, since it com- 

 prehended also the antiquities of their country, and 

 the traditions of their ancestors. Expressions of nati- 

 onal triumph for victory in war, lamentations in times 

 of public calamity, the voice of festivity, and the 

 language of love, were likewise the subjects of these 

 exhibitions; the dances, so essential a part of them, 

 being grave or gay as the occasion required. It is 

 pretended that among the traditions thus publicly re- 

 cited, there was one of a prophetic nature, denoun- 

 cing ruin and desolation by the arrival of strangers 

 completely clad, and armed with the lightning of 

 Heaven. The ceremonies which were observed when 

 this awful prediction was repeated, we may well be- 

 lieve, were strongly expressive of lamentation and 

 horror. 



IV. Like all other unenlightened nations, these 

 poor Indians were indeed the slaves of superstition. 

 Their general theology (for they had an established 

 system, and a priesthood to support it) was a medley 

 of gross folly and childish traditions, the progeny of 

 ignorance and terror. Yet we are sometimes daz- 

 zled with a strong ray of sunshine in the midst 

 of surrounding darkness. Historians have preserved 



J Oviedo, lib. v. c. iii. 



Martyr, ut supra. Herrera, lib. ii. c. iv. 



