358 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



and the inhuman facrifices of the Mexicans, declaiming 

 warmly againft the barbarous cruelty of facrificing hu- 

 man victims, and feeding on their flefli. Montezuma 

 anfwered, that with refpecl: to the creation of the world 

 they were of one fentiment ; as that which Cortes had 

 juft faid had been communicated to him by his anceftors; 

 that as to the reft he had already been informed by his 

 ambailadors of the religion of the Spaniards. I, how- 

 ever, he added, do not doubt of the goodnefs of the 

 God whom you adore ; but if he is kind to Spain, our 

 gods are equally fo to Mexico, as the experience of 

 many centuries has (hewn to us. Spare yourfelves there- 

 fore the trouble of endeavouring to induce me to leave 

 their worfhip. With regard to our facrifices, 1 do not 

 know why we are to be blamed for facrificing to the 

 gods thofe men, who either on account of their own 

 crimes, or from their fate in war, are deftined to death. 

 But although Cortes did not fucceed in converting him 

 to the Chriftian religion, he obtained a promife, as has 

 been affirmed, that there never fhould be any human 

 flefh prepared for the royal table, either becaufe the 

 reafon urged by Cortes againft it, wakened in his mind 

 the horror natural at fuch food, or becaufe he was de- 

 firous of fliewing compliance with the Spaniards in fome 

 of their demands. On this occafion alfo he difplayed 

 the royal beneficence towards them, prefenting to 

 Cortes, and his four officers, feveral labours of gold, 

 and ten bales of fine drelles of cotton, and a golden 

 necklace to every foldier. 



Cortes having returned to his quarters (for thus we 

 may hereafter name the palace of Axajacatl where the 

 Spaniards were lodged,) he began to reflect on the dan- 

 ger which furrounded him in the heart of a city fo ftrong 



and 



