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such extreme ferocity in religious ceremonies 

 should be found among a people, whose social 

 and political state reminds us, in other points of 

 view, of the civilization of the Chinese, and the 

 inhabitants of Japan. The Aztecks were not 

 satisfied with dyeing their idols with blood, as is 

 practised still by the Chaman Tartars, who how- 

 ever sacrifice to their Nogats oxen and sheep 

 only ; they even devoured a part of the carcase, 

 which the priests threw down to the bottom of 

 the staircase of the teocalli, after having torn 

 out the heart. We cannot mention these objects 

 without inquiring, whether these barbarous rites, 

 which we find also in the islands of the South 

 Sea, among nations whose mild manners have 

 been too much vaunted, would have ceased of 

 themselves, if the Mexicans, without having any 

 communication with the Spaniards, had con- 

 tinued to advance towards civilization. It is 

 probable, that this beneficent reform in their 

 worship, this triumph of the goddess of the har- 

 vests over the gods of carnage, would have been 

 very long delayed. 



In South America, the most powerful nation, 

 the Peruvians, followed the worship of the Sun. 

 The most bloody wars were waged by the Incas, 

 to introduce a peaceable and gentle religion; 

 human sacrifices vanished, wherever the descend- 

 ants of Manco-Capac carried their laws, their 



