ETHNOLOGY OF TUE PRESENT DAY. 265 



in Mexico, but also in Puebla, Jalapa, &c., the dress is more complete ; the 

 broad- brimmed hat and enveloping head-dress being probably copied from 

 the Spaniards. {PL 30, ^^5. 2 and 3, male and female dress of Puebla ; 

 fig. 4, woman of Jalapa.) The new order of things brought about by the 

 separation of the Spanish colony from the mother country, has, it is true, 

 improved the condition of the Indians, as it was really by their assistance 

 that the subversion of the Spanish power was effected ; and this portion of 

 the population, subjected to the greatest restrictions, and frequently treated 

 with the most cruel severity, whilst Spain was mistress, under the constitu- 

 tion of the new republican states became citizens. Their rights of citizen- 

 ship, however, are altogether nominal, and their moral and spiritual condition 

 is still the same as under the predominance of the Spanish viceroys, whose 

 policy in reference to the oppression practised by white masters and men 

 in power upon the Indians, if abolished on paper, is still continued in 

 fact. 



If we glance at the former religion of the Mexicans, we shall find that 

 it consisted of idolatry and sacrifices of the most cruel description. The 

 priests of the idols were bloodthirsty, unfeeling murderers of human beings, 

 who made the holy awe felt towards them by the people the means of grati- 

 fying their sensual lusts, their self-interests, and their fondness fbr carnage. 

 The priest needed only to say that the god hungered, and sons and daugh- 

 ters had to be brought to the altar, or the prince was obliged to go to war 

 and take prisoners. Victims obtained in either way were laid upon a black 

 stone, and the priest with a sharp flint cut the palpitating heart out of the 

 living body, in order to expose it reeking to the sun. (PL 37, fig. 1.) 

 Their most important idol was VitzUputzli, which was worshipped in a 

 splendid temple, and to which ofl^erings of the above description were made ; 

 and another renowned idol, to which they did homage, was the god of the 

 air, or Quetzalcatl, in honor of w^hich curious dances and games were 

 customary. In the latter even the kings took part, and in their most 

 magnificent costumes ; whilst the common people were in the habit of dis- 

 guising themselves as animals, for which purpose they had peculiar dresses 

 of skins or feathers. The Mexicans are now converted to Christianity, 

 it is true ; but the change has produced no other effect than the substitution 

 of new ceremonies, symbols of a mild and humane religion, for those of a 

 bloody worship of idols. This transition from old rites to new was the work 

 of force and not of conviction, and Christianity was thus intermixed with 

 the Mexican mythology ; a course of policy not only tolerated by the rulers 

 and missionaries, but even favored to a certain extent, in order that in this 

 way the introduction of Christianity might be facilitated. They persuaded 

 the natives that the gospel had been preached in America even in very 

 ancient times, and sought its vestiges in the rites of the Aztecs. We may 

 account in this manner for the fact that the Mexican Indians, in spite of 

 the obstinacy with which they cling to everything received from their 

 fathers, easily forgot their former religious practices. They know nothing 

 more of religion than the external forms of worship ; and being fond of cere- 

 monies, take much pleasure in the Christian service. Church festivals, the 



437 



