[Richard Kimball]

You're assuming. The Karankawas of the Texas coast were cannibals, as were several of the Caribbean tribes. Robert Redford's movie Jeremiah Johnson cleaned up the reputation of the man. He was, during his day, known as Liver Eating Johnson. He hunted Crow Indians, killed them, and ate their livers. Many of the tribes did the same. FWIW, when I was in Haiti, back around 96, I was documenting missionary work for the Wells of Salvation ministry. I was cautioned not to photograph in the open markets anyone who was selling meat. Some, I have no idea how much, of the meat was human, and the vendors would attack and kill people photographing them, as they feared the photographer was gathering evidence. They cautioned me not to even appear to be interested in any red meat being sold.

The Aztecs are of particular interest because, compared to most other tribes, which were essentially stone age before interaction with Europeans, they had developed a pretty advanced civilization, but were absolutely merciless. There's an interesting reference page here. The stone age tribes saw human flesh as meat, and ate it. The Aztecs placed it in a religious context.

Of course, many pagan religions teach that eating portions of a vanquished enemy is a method of obtaining their courage. It's also a sign of ultimate dominance, and embeds fear in the surviving foes.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Redford's movie Jeremiah Johnson cleaned up the reputation of the man. He was, during his day, known as Liver Eating Johnson. He hunted Crow Indians, killed them, and ate their livers. **

I read that years later Johnson admitted that he only passed the liver in front of his face to make it look like he took a bite out of it, but did not actually eat it.

I've read so many books on the old west I can't remember which book or magazine it was in.

[WL-law]

Enjoyed your post, the link you provided doesn’t work - can you re-post it?