In conclusion, I have to thank my daughter, who took infinite pains in transcribing from books and treatises difficult of access, in the British Museum and the Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh, and who sacrificed much of that time which young people usually devote to amusement in order that she might help me in a difficult task. L. S. CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY The type and evolution of Mexican religion—The antiquity of Mexican religion—The literature of Mexican religion: I, The native codices; II, The native writings; III, Native art-forms; IV, Writings of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico—The origins of Mexican religion—Evidence of early religion in Mexico—Deification of the elements of growth—Evidences of primitive influences—Fetishtic origin of gods—Animal gods—Growth of the rain-cult—The necessity for human sacrifice—The later elements of Mexican religion—Cultural elements of Mexican religion—The Quetzalcoatl cult—The cult of obsidian—Unity of religious conception throughout Mexico pp. 1–35 CHAPTER II COSMOGONY The “ages” of Mexican cosmogony—The making of the earth—The peopling of the earth—Creation of the sun and moon—The Historia de los Mexicanos—Deluge myths—The “Coxcox” fallacy—The fall of the gods—Mexican conceptions of the universe—The five regions of the world: The Tree of the East; the Tree of the North; the Tree of the West; the Tree of the South; Tlaxicco; Tlapcopa; Uitznauac or Uitzlampa; Ciuatlampa; Mictlampa—The supporters of the heavens—The Aztec heavens: Tlalocan; Homeyoca—Mictlampa as Hades pp. 36–64 CHAPTER III THE GREAT GODS Method of treatment—Uitzilopochtli—Tezcatlipocâ—Quetzalcoatl pp. 65–145 CHAPTER IV THE CREATIVE DEITIES Tonacatecutli—Tonacaciuatl pp. 146–152 CHAPTER V DEITIES OF THE EARTH AND GROWTH PROPER Introductory—Tlazolteotl—Chicomecoatl—Cinteotl—Ciuacoatl—Coatlicue— Xochiquetzal—Macuilxochitl or Xochipilli—Xipe—Xilonen—Itzpapalotl— Zapotlantenan—Ilamatecutli pp. 153–233 CHAPTER VI THE GODS OF RAIN AND MOISTURE Introductory—Tlaloc—Chalchihuitlicue—Uixtociuatl—Atlaua—Napatecutli —Matlalcuêyê—Opochtli pp. 234–267 CHAPTER VII THE FIRE-GODS Xiuhtecutli—Chantico—Quaxolotl pp. 268–284 CHAPTER VIII THE OCTLI OR PULQUE (DRINK) GODS General—Tezcatzoncatl—Tepoxtecatl—Patecatl—Mayauel—Totoltecatl— Macuiltochtli—Totochtin—Tomiauhtecutli pp. 285–299 CHAPTER IX STELLAR AND PLANETARY DEITIES Tonatiuh the Sun-God (Piltzintecutli)—Metztli or Tecciztecatl the Moon-God—Mixcoatl, Iztac Mixcoatl or Camaxtli—Tlauizcalpantecutli— Coyolxauhqui—The Tzitzimimê pp. 300–326