When the great temple of Huitzilopochtli was dedicated in 1486, the chain of victims sacrificed on that occasion extended for the length of two miles. In this terrible massacre the hearts of no less than seventy thousand human beings were offered up! . . . These victims were nearly always captive warriors of rival nations, and it was on rare occasions only that native Mexicans were led to the stone of sacrifice unless, indeed, they were malefactors.⁴

The old historians disagree greatly as to the number sacrificed. Las Casas places all sacrifices at an insignificant figure, and Zumarraga estimates that 20,000 were sacrificed annually in the capital.¹

⁴Spence, L.n/an/an/an/an/a, , 41.

¹ Bancroft, H. H., Native Races of the Pacific States, 3: 442.