Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-01-25

which it is unnecessary TO shock the fea-
der-were Inflicted, but they always ter
minated with the Bloody. ceremony above
described. 1t should be remarked how
ever, that such tortures were not the
spontaneous suggestions of cruelty. as
with the North American Indians; but
were all vigorously prescribed in the AZ
tee ritual, and doubtless were often IN
flicted with the same compunctlons visi-
tinos which alevout familiar of the Ho-
ly Office might at times experience IN
executing its stern DEGREES. Women. as
we'll as the other sex, were sometimes re
served for sacrifice. On some occasions,
particularly in seasons CT drought, at the
lestiva! Of the Unsuitable TIaloc, the god
of rain, children, for the most part in
fants, were offered up. AS they were
borne along in open filters, dressed IN
their festal robes, and decked with the
fresh blossoms Of spring, they moved the
hardest heart to pity, though their cries
were drowned in the wild chant of the
priests, who read in their tears tavora-
bic augury for their petition. These in
uocent victims were generally bought by
the priests of parents who were poor, but
who stifled the voice of nature, probably
less at the suggestions of poverty, than
of wretched superstition.
The most loatesome part OF the story
the manner in which the body of the sa-
crificed captive was disposed ore
mains yet to be told, 1t was delivered
to the warrior who had taken him in bat
tie, and by him. after being dressed, was
served up in an entertainment to his
friends. This was not the coarse repast
of famished cannibals, but banquet tee
ming with the delicious beverages and
delicate vlands prepared with art, and
attended by both sexes, who, as we shall
see hereafter, conducted themselves
with all the decorum of ciyilised life
Surely, never were refinement and the
extreme Of barbarism brough SO closely
in contact with each other.
Human sacrifices have been practised
by many nations, not excepting the most
polished nations of antiquity; but never
by any on a scale to be compared with
those of Anahuac. The amount Of vic
TINS inundated on its accursed affairs
would stagger the faith Of the least scru-
pulous believer. Scarcely any author
pretends to estimate the yearly sacrlfi-
ces throughout the empire at less than
twenty thousand, and some carry the
number as high as fifty.
On great occasions. as the coronation
of king, the conservation of temple,
the number becomes still more appalling
At the dedication of the great temple of
HuitziIopotchli, in 1886, the prisoners,
who for some years had beer reserved
for the purpose, were drawn from all
quarters to the capital. They were ram
ged in files, forming procession nearly
two miles long. The ceremony consul
med several days, and seventy thousand
captives are said to have persisted at the
shrine Of this terrible deity But who
can believe that SO numerous body
would have suffered themselves to be led
INTERESTINGLY like sheep to the slaug hters
Or how could their remains, top great
for consumption in the ordinary way, be
disposed of, without breeding pesti-
lencc in the capital Yet the event wa:
of recent date, and is unequiyocally at
tested by the best informed historians
One fact may be considered certain. 1
was customary to preserve the skulls o
the sacrificed, in buildings appropriated
to the purpose. The companions of Cor
ties counted one hundred and sixty-si,
| thousand in one Of the edifices.. With
out attempting precise calculation
/ therefore, it is safe to conclude that thou
sands were yearly offered up, in the dill
ferent cities Of Anahuac, on the blood,
affairs of Mexican diyinities.