154 



HISTORY OF MEXICO 



He who told a lie to the particular prejudice of ano- 

 ther, had a part of his lip cut off, and fometimes his 

 ears. 



Of the Mexican laws concerning Haves it is to be ob- 

 ferved, that there were three forts of flaves among 

 them. The firft were prifoners of war ; the fecond 

 were thofe whom they purehafed for a valuable confide- 

 ration ; and the third were malefactors, who were de- 

 prived of their liberty in punifliment of their crimes. 



The prifoners of war were generally facrificed to 

 their gods. He who in war took another's prifoner 

 from him, or fet him at liberty, was puniflied with 

 death. 



The fale of a flave was not valid, unlcfs it was made 

 m the prefence of four lawful witneffes. In general, 

 they aflfembled in greater numbers, and celebrated con- 

 tracts of that nature with great folemnity. 



Among the Mexicans a Have was allowed to have cat- 

 tle, to acquire property, and even to purchafe flaves 

 who ferved him ; nor could his owner hinder him, nor 

 have fervice from fuch flaves ; for flavery was only an 

 obligation of perfonal fervice, and even that was under 

 certain reftri&ions. 



Nor was flavery entailed upon the defendants of 

 flaves. All Mexicans were born free, although their 

 mothers were flaves. If a free man impregnated ano- 

 ther perfon's flave, and flie died during her pregnancy, 

 he became the flave of the owner of the female flave \ 

 but if flie was happily delivered, the child as well as the 

 father remained both free. 



Neceflitous parents were allowed to difpofe of any 

 one of their children, in order to relieve their poverty ; 

 and any free man might fell himfelf for the fame pur- 



pofe ; 



