4is 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



metropolis they forbid the facrifices of men, ftill per- 

 mitted with great frequency the gladiatorian facrifices. 

 So we call thofe barbarous combats, which, as well as 

 ferving for the amufement of that fierce people, were 

 likewife prefcribed by their religion. Befides the great 

 quantity of blood fpilt at the Circenfian games, and at 

 banquets, there was not a little alfo fhed at the funerals 

 of wealthy perfons, either of gladiators, or prifoners 

 who were put to death to appeafe the manes of the 

 decked ; and they were fo firmly perfuaded of the 

 neceflity of fome human blood being fpilt for this 

 purpofe, that when the circumstances of the dead 

 could not bear the expenfe of gladiators or prifoners, 

 prefica were paid, that they might draw blood from 

 their cheeks with their nails. How many victims muft 

 thus have fallen by the fuperftition of the Romans, at 

 their funerals, efpecially as they vied with each other 

 who fhould exceed in the number of gladiators and pri- 

 foners whofe blood was to celebrate the funeral pomp ? 

 It was this bloody difpofition of the Romans which made 

 fuch havoc on the people of Europe, Afia, and Africa, 

 and which, befides overflowed Rome with the blood of 

 its own citizens, efpecially during thofe horrid profcrip- 

 tions which fullied the glory of that famous republic. 



The Mexicans were not only inhuman towards their 

 prifoners, but likewife towards themfelves, by their bar- 

 barous aufterities mentioned in this hiftory. But the 

 drawing of blood with the prickles of the aloes from 

 their tongues, arms, and legs, as they all did, and the 

 boring their tongue with pieces of cane, as the moft 

 auftere among them ufed to do, will appear but flight 

 mortifications compared with thofe dreadful and unheard- 

 of aufterities executed upon themfelves by penitents of 



the 



