In the essay “Of Cannibals”, Michel de Montaigne writes about an initial encounter with Brazilian tribes who practiced cannibalism. He uses this narrative to challenge European norms and values of the time, emphasizing that his experience with these peoples suggests Europeans should be more tolerant of other cultures and traditions. After detailing his observations, Montaigne concludes that “every man call[s] barbarous anything he is not accustomed to” (Montaigne). Thus, it is likely that upon hearing about the Mayan ball game in which the loser was often sacrificed to gods as a form of religious offering or appeasement, Montaigne would find such rituals understandable and even admirable.