38 6 The 3\(atural! andMoratt 



Of another kind of facrifces of men wbtih the Mcxi* 

 cainesvfed. CHAP. 21. 



*~l~<Here was another kinde of facrifice which they 

 1 made in divers feafts, which they called Racaxipt 

 Vtlit^ti^ which is as much as the fleaing of men. They 

 call it ib, for that in fome feafls they tooke one or more 

 flaves, as they pleafed 5 and after they had flead him* 

 they with thatskinne apparelled amanappoymed to 

 that end. This man went dauncing and leaping tho- 

 row all the houfes and market places of the cittie, eve 

 ry one being forced to offer fbmething vnto him : and 

 if any one failed, hee would ftrike him over the face, 

 with a corner of the skinne, defy ling him with the 

 congealed blood. This invention continued vntill the 

 skinne did ftinke : during which time, fuch as went ga 

 thered together much almes, which they imployed in 

 necefiary things for the fervice oftheir gods . In many 

 of thefe feafls they made a challenge,betwixt him that 

 did {acrifice , and him thatfhould be facrifyced thus : 

 they tied the (lave by one foote to a whcele of ftone, 

 giving him a fvvord and target in his handes to defend 

 hirnfclfe: then prefemlyftept foorth hcc that facri- 

 ficcd him, armed with another fivord and target :ifhe 

 thatfhouldbe fncrificed defends himfelfe valiantly a- 

 gainft the other 5 and refifted him, hee then remayned 

 freed from the (aerify ce, winning the name of a fa 

 mous Captaine,and fo was reputed : but if hee were 

 vanquiflied, they then facrifyced him on the ftonc 

 vvherevnto he was tyed.; It was an other kinde of facri- 

 fyce , whenas they appoynted any flave to be the re- 

 prefcntation of the idoll, faying that it was his pi<5iure.- 



They 



