Native American, or Indian Dogs. 9 



Either this species or the Techichi, perhaps both, 

 were brought to the market of the city of Mexico, 

 along with deer, rabbits, and many other animals, 

 before the conquest of the Spaniards. Gage says 

 these animals were sold either " by quarters or 

 whole." It would appear from the same writer, that 

 these dogs were sometimes castrated for food*. 

 These simple facts are calculated, with many others, 

 to show, that the Mexicans, at the time they were 

 discovered, had actually advanced, in many respects, 

 towards the attainment of that police, those arts and 

 practices, which are never observed among people in 

 the savage forms of society. Another century, but 

 for the discovery of Columbus, would have conducted 

 these unfortunate Americans much nearer to the 

 condition of their conquerors ; but it is to be feared, 

 Ifcjiat many centuries would have been requisite to 

 have weaned them from their hideous religion, which 

 was the foundation of their savage practices and man- 

 ners. The history of mankind exhibits abundant 

 proofs of this position, that the arts which they prac- 

 tise, and the police which they observe, are no certain 

 evidences of a truly civilized state. A mild reli- 

 gion appears to be absolutely necessary to the at- 

 tainment and the preservation of this happy state of 

 man. 



* A New Survey, &c. p. 111. 

 VOL. I. PART II. B 



