alive； and with their bloody skins clothe and disguise others。 Neither
are we without great examples of constancy and resolution in this affair
the poor souls that are to be sacrificed； old men； women； and children；
themselves going about some days before to beg alms for the offering of
their sacrifice； presenting themselves to the slaughter； singing and
dancing with the spectators。
The ambassadors of the king of Mexico； setting out to Fernando Cortez the
power and greatness of their master； after having told him； that he had
thirty vassals； of whom each was able to raise an hundred thousand
fighting men； and that he kept his court in the fairest and best
fortified city under the sun； added at last； that he was obliged yearly
to offer to the gods fifty thousand men。 And it is affirmed； that he
maintained a continual war； with some potent neighbouring nations； not
only to keep the young men in exercise； but principally to have
wherewithal to furnish his sacrifices with his prisoners of war。 At a
certain town in another place； for the welcome of the said Cortez； they
sacrificed fifty men at once。 I will tell you this one tale more； and I
have done； some of these people being beaten by him； sent to acknowledge
him； and to treat with him of a peace； whose messengers carried him three
sorts of gifts； which they presented in these terms： 〃Behold； lord； here
are five slaves： if thou art a furious god that feedeth upon flesh and
blood； eat these； and we will bring thee more； if thou art an affable
god； behold here incense and feathers； but if thou art a man； take these
fowls and these fruits that we have brought thee。〃
CHAPTER XXX
OF CANNIBALS
When King Pyrrhus invaded Italy； having viewed and considered the order
of the army the Romans sent out to meet him； 〃I know not；〃 said he；
〃what kind of barbarians〃 （for so the Greeks called all other nations）
〃these may be； but the disposition of this army that I see has nothing of
barbarism in it。〃 ＇Plutarch； Life of Pyrrhus； c。 8。＇ As much said the
Greeks of that which Flaminius brought into their country； and Philip；
beholding from an eminence the order and distribution of the Roman camp
formed in his kingdom by Publius Sulpicius Galba； spake to the same
effect。 By which it appears how cautious men ought to be of taking
things upon trust from vulgar opinion； and that we are to judge by the
eye of reason； and not from common report。
I long had a man in my house that lived ten or twelve years in the New
World； discovered in these latter days； and in that part of it where
Villegaignon landed；＇At Brazil； in 1557。＇ which he called Antarctic
France。 This discovery of so vast a country seems to be of very great
consideration。 I cannot be sure； that hereafter there may not be
another； so many wiser men than we having been deceived in this。 I am
afraid our eyes are bigger than our bellies； and that we have more
curiosity than capacity； for we grasp at all； but catch nothing but wind。
Plato brings in Solon； ＇In Timaeus。＇ telling a story that he had
heard from the priests of Sais in Egypt； that of old； and before the
Deluge； there was a great island called Atlantis； situate directly at the
mouth of the straits of Gibraltar； which contained more countries than
both Africa and Asia put together； and that the kings of that country；
who not only possessed that Isle； but extended their dominion so far into
the continent that they had a country of Africa as far as Egypt； and
extending in Europe to Tuscany； attempted to encroach even upon Asia； and
to subjugate all the nations that border upon the Mediterranean Sea； as
far as the Black Sea； and to that effect overran all Spain； the Gauls；
and Italy； so far as to penetrate into Greece； where the Athenians
stopped them： but that some time after； both the Athenians； and they and
their island； were swallowed by the Flood。
It is very likely that this extreme irruption and inundation of water
made wonderful changes and alterations in the habitations of the earth；
as 'tis said that the sea then divided Sicily from Italy
〃Haec loca； vi quondam et vasta convulsa ruina；
Dissiluisse ferunt； quum protenus utraque tellus
Una foret〃
＇〃These lands； they say； formerly with violence and vast desolation
convulsed； burst asunder； where erewhile were。〃AEneid； iii。 414。＇
Cyprus from Syria； the isle of Negropont from the continent of Beeotia；
and elsewhere united lands that were separate before； by filling up the
channel betwixt them with sand and mud：
〃Sterilisque diu palus； aptaque remis；
Vicinas urbes alit； et grave sentit aratrum。〃
＇〃That which was once a sterile marsh； and bore vessels on its
bosom； now feeds neighbouring cities； and admits the plough。〃
Horace； De Arte Poetica； v。 65。＇
But there is no great appearance that this isle was this New World so
lately discovered： for that almost touched upon Spain； and it were an
incredible effect of an inundation； to have tumbled back so prodigious a
mass； above twelve hundred leagues： besides that our modern navigators
have already almost discovered it to be no island； but terra firma； and
continent with the East Indies on the one side； and with the lands under
the two poles on the other side； or； if it be separate from them； it is
by so narrow a strait and channel； that it none the more deserves the
name of an island for that。
It should seem； that in this great body； there are two sorts of motions；
the one natural and the other febrific； as there are in ours。 When I
consider the impression that our river of Dordogne has made in my time on
the right bank of its descent； and that in twenty years it has gained so
much； and undermined the foundations of so many houses； I perceive it to
be an extraordinary agitation： for had it always followed this course；
or were hereafter to do it； the aspect of the world would be totally
changed。 But rivers alter their course； sometimes beating against the
one side； and sometimes the other； and some times quietly keeping the
channel。 I do not speak of sudden inundations； the causes of which
everybody understands。 In Medoc； by the seashore； the Sieur d'Arsac； my
brother； sees an estate he had there； buried under the sands which the
sea vomits before it： where the tops of some houses are yet to be seen；
and where his rents and domains are converted into pitiful barren
pasturage。 The inhabitants of this place affirm； that of late years the
sea has driven so vehemently upon them； that they have lost above four
leagues of land。 These sands are her harbingers： and we now see great
heaps of moving sand； that march half a league before her； and occupy the
land。
The other testimony from antiquity； to which some would apply this
discovery of the New World； is in Aristotle； at least； if that little
book of Unheard of Miracles be his ＇one of the spurious publications
brought out under his name D。W。＇。 He there tells us； that certain
Carthaginians； having crossed the Atlantic Sea without the Straits of
Gibraltar； and sailed a very long time； discovered at last a great and
fruitful island； all covered over with wood； and watered with several
broad and deep rivers； far remote from all terra firma； and that they；
and others after them； allured by the goodness and fertility of the soil；
went thither with their wives and children； and began to plant a colony。
But the senate of Carthage perceiving their people by little and little
to diminish； issued out an express prohibition； that none； upon pain of
death； should transport themselves thither； and also drove out these new
inhabitants； fearing； 'tis said； lest' in process of time they should so
multiply as to supplant themselves and ruin their state。 But this
relation of Aristotle no more agrees with our new…found lands than the
other。
This man that I had was a plain ignorant fellow； and therefore the more
likely to tell truth： for your better…bred sort of men are much more
curious in their observation； 'tis true； and discover a great deal more；
but then they gloss upon it； and to give the greater weight to what they
deliver； and allure your belief； they cannot forbear a little to alter
the story； they never represent things to you simply as they are； but
rather as they appeared to them； or as they would have them appear to
you； and to gain the reputation of men of judgment； and the better to
induce your faith； are willing to help out the business with something
more than is really true； of their own invention。 Now in this case； we
should either have a man of irreproachable veracity； or so simple that he
has not wherewithal to contrive； and to give a colour of truth to false
relations； and who can have no ends in forging an untruth。 Such a one
was mine； and besides； he has at divers times brought to me several
seamen and merchants who at the same time went the same voyage。 I shall
therefore content myself with his information； without inquiring what the
cosmographers say to the business。 We should have topographers to trace
out to us the particular places where they have been； but for having had
this advantage over us； to have seen the Holy Land； they would have the
privilege； forsooth； to tell us stories of all the other parts of the
world beside。 I would have every one write what he knows； and as much as
he knows； but no more； and that not in this only but in all other
subjects； for such a person may have some particular knowledge and
experience of the nature of such a river； or such a fountain； who； as to
other things； knows no more than what everybody does； and yet to give a
currency to his little pittance of learning； will undertake to write the
whole body of physics： a vice from which great inconveniences derive
their original。
Now； to return to my subject； I find that there is nothing barbarous and
savage in this nation； by anything that I can gather； excepting； that
every one gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use
in his own country。 As； indeed； we have no other level of truth and
reason than the example and idea of the opinions and customs of the place
wherein