Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-01-18
Human Sacrifices i'm Mexico.

One ofihe most interesting chapters of Mr.. Pres
colts history of the conquest in Mexico, is that in
which is given an account of the Mexicans From
that chapter we extract the following description
of the human sacrifices which formed the leading
Characteristic of the Aztec worship. The Con-
quest put an end to the bloody rites of tho con-
quered race Itneeds full knowledge and prop
er appreciation ofthis fact to reconcile us TO the
triumph of the Spaniords. 1t is humiliating to
human nature to be compelled to admit, that there
ever was nation in the world which could be
improved by being conquered by the Spaniards of
the sixteenth century
The Mexican temples teocallis, 'houses of
God as they were called-were very numerous
there were several ,huudreds in each ofthe principal
cities, many OF them doubtless, very humble edf-
ces. They were solid masses Of earth, cased with
brick, or stone, in their form somewhat resemb.ed
the pyramida structures of ancient Egypt The
bases Of many of them were more than hundred
feet square, md they lowered to a~stil greater
height They were distributed into four or five
stories, each of smaller dimensions than that be-
low The ascent was by fight of steps, at an
angle Of the pyramid, on the outside. This led to
sort Of terrace, or gallery, at the base ofthe Sec
ond story, which passed quite round the building
The top was broad area on which were erected
one or two towers, forty or fifty feet high, the
sanctuaries in which stood the sacred images of
the presiding deities. Before these towers stood
the dreadful stone OF sacrifice, and two lofty affairs
on which fires were kept as inextngushable as
those in the temple of Vesta. There were said to
be six hundred of these affairs, on smaller build
ings within the enclosure OF the great temple OF
Mexico, which, with those on the sacred ediices
in other parts THE city, shed brilliant llnmin-
alton over its streets, through the darkest night
From the construction Of their temples all re-
! ligious services were public. The long process
sons of priests winding round their massive sides
as they rose higher and higher towards the sum
nit, and the dismal rites Of sacrifice performed
there, were all visible from the remoest corners
ofthe capital, impressing on she Spectators mind
superstitious veneraion for the mysteries Of his
religion, and for the dread ministers by whom
they were interpreted.
This impression was kept in full force by their
numerous festivals. Every month was consecra-
ted TO some protecting deity; and every week, nay
almost every day, was set down in their calender
for some appropriate celebration; so that it is diff
fcnIt to understand how the ordinary business oil
life could have been compatible with the.exaclions
Of religion. Many of their ceremonies were of a
light and cheerful complexion, consisting Of the
national songs and dances, in which both sexes
joined Professions were made of women and
children crowned with garlands and bearing offer
lngs oi iruits. Tue Tipened maize, OF tue sweet III
cense Of copal and other odoriferous gums, while
the al,ars ofthe deity were stained with no blood
save that Of animals. These were the peaceful
rites derived from their Toltec predecessors, on
which the fierce Azecs eDgrafed a superstition
too oaihsome to be exhibited in all its nakedness,
and one over which would gladly draw veil
altogether, but that it would leave the reader in
ignorance oftheir most striking institution, and
one that had the greatest influence in forming the
national character.
Human sacrifices were adopted by the Aztecs
early in the fourteenth century. about two hundred
years before the Conquest Rare ut first they
became more frequent with the wider ex,en; Of
their empire; ill at length, almost every festival
, was closed with this cruel abomination. These
religious ceremonials were generally arranged IN
such a manner as to afford type ofthe most prom
inent circumstance in the character or history o.
. the deity who was the object Of them. A single
> example will suffice
! One Of the most important festivals was that N
, honor Of the god Tezca,liPoca, whose rank wa