HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



305 



are neceflary to fupply the wants, and remedy the mife- 

 ries of life ; thofe, in fhort, who have no idea of the 

 Divinity, or, at leaft, have not eftablifhed any worfhip 

 by which they acknowledge him. The Mexicans, and 

 all the other nations of Anahuac, as well as the Peruvi- 

 ans, confefled a fupreme omnipotent Being, although 

 their belief was like that of other idolatrous people, 

 mixed with errors and fuperftition. They had priefts, 

 temples, facrifices, and eftablifhed rites, for the uniform 

 worfliip of the Divinity. They had a king, governors, 

 and magiftrates ; they had numerous cities, and a moil 

 extenfive population, as we fliall make appear hereafter. 

 They had laws and cuftoms, the obfervance of which 

 was attended to by their magiftrates and governors. 

 They had commerce, and took infinite care to enforce 

 juftice and equity in contracts. Their lands were dis- 

 tributed, and every individual was fecured in the pro- 

 perty and poflefiion of his foil. They exercifed agricul- 

 ture and other arts ; not only thofe neceflary to life, 

 but alfo thofe which contributed to luxury and pleafure 

 alone. "What more is neceflary to defend nations from 

 the imputation of being barbarous and favage ? Money, 

 fays M. de Paw, the ufe of iron* the art of writing, and 

 thofe of building {hips, conftru&ing bridges of Hone, 

 and making lime. Their arts were imperfect and rude ; 

 their language extremely fcarce of numeral terms and 

 words fit to exprefs univerfal ideas, and their laws muft 

 be reckoned none ; for laws cannot be where anarchy 

 and defpotifm reign. 



Vol. III. 



SECT. 



