56 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



The number of twenty thoufand, which is conjectured 

 to approach the neareft to truth, does not appear to us 

 improbable, if we include in it all the victims which were 

 facrificed throughout the whole empire ; but if that num- 

 ber comprehends, as fome hiftorians afTert, the infants 

 only, or the victims which were facrificed on the moun- 

 tain Tepeyacac, or in the capital, we think it altogether 

 incredible. It is certain, that the number of facrifices was 

 not limited, but always proportioned either to the num- 

 ber of prifoners which were made in war, to the necef- 

 fities of the ftate, or the nature of the feftivals, as appears 

 from the dedication of the greater temple of Mexico, on 

 which occafion the cruelty of the Mexicans exceeded all 

 bounds of belief. It is not, however, to be doubted, 

 that the facrifices were very numerous ; the conquefts 

 of the Mexicans having been extremely rapid, and as 

 their aim in war was not fo much to kill as to make pri- 

 foners of the enemy for this purpofe. If to thefe vic- 

 tims we add the flaves which were purchafed for the 

 fame end, and many criminals who were condemned to 

 expiate their crimes by the facrifice of their lives, we 

 fliall find the number greatly exceed that computed by 

 Las Cafas, who was too anxious to exculpate the Ame- 

 ricans of all the exceffes of which they were accufed by 

 the Spaniards (q). The facrifices multiplied in Divine 

 years, and flill more in Secular years. 



The 



Dr. Sepulveda, reduces the facrifices to fo fmalfa number, that we are left to 

 believe, they amounted not to fifty, or at moft not to a hundred. We are 

 ftrongly of opinion, that all thefe authors have erred in the number, Las Cafas 

 by diminution, the reft by exaggeration of the truth. 



(q) We cannot account why Las Cafas, who, in his writings makes ufe of 

 the teftimony of Zumarraga, and other churchmen, againft the conquerors, 

 fiiould afterwards fo openly contradict them refpccting the number of the 

 facrifices. 



