THE 



HISTORY 



OF 



MEXICO. 



BOOK VI. 



The Religion of the Mexicans : namely, their Gods, Tern* 

 -pies, Priests, Sacrifices, and Offerings : their Fasts and 

 Austerities, their Chronology, Calendar, and Festivals j 

 their Ceremonies upon the Birth of Children, at Mar- 

 riages, and Funerals. 



THE religion, government, and ceconomy of a ftate 

 are the three things which chiefly form the charac- 

 ter of a nation, and without being acquainted with thefe, 

 it is impoffible to have a perfect idea of the genius, dif- 

 pofitions, and knowledge of any people whatever. The 

 religion of the Mexicans, of which we are to give an ac- 

 count in this book, was a heap of errors, of fuperftitions, 

 and cruel rites. Such weaknefles of the human mind, 

 of which we have had but too many examples even in 

 the mod enlightened nations of antiquity, are infeparable 

 Vol. IL A from 



