ESTIMATION OF WARRIORS. 229 CHAPTER XII. Estimation in which fighting men were held-Weapons-Dress-Ornaments-Various kinds of helmet and armour-Ancient arms, &c. superseded by the introduction of firearms-Former ideas respecting the musket, &c.-Divination or augury-Savage and merciless conduct of the victorsExistence of wild men in the mountains-Account of one at Bunaauïa, who had fled from the field of battle-Treatment of the captives and the slainDivision of the spoil, and appropriation of the country-Maritime warfareEncampments-Fortifications-Instance of patriotism-Methods of concluding peace-Religious ceremonies and festivities that followed-Present sentiments of the people in reference to war-Triumph of the principles of peace -Incident at Rurutu. PROVISION for war was attended to when every other consideration was disregarded. In the perpetration of the unnatural crime of infanticide, boys were more frequently spared than female children, solely with a view to their becoming warriors. In all our schools we were surprised at the disproportion between the boys and the girls that attended, and at the small number of women in the adult population; and on inquiring the cause, were invariably told that more girls than boys were destroyed, because they would, if spared, be comparatively useless in war. War, therefore, being esteemed by the majority as the most important end of life, every kind of training for its successful pursuit was held in the highest repute. In times of war, all capable of bearing arms were called upon to join the forces of the chieftain to whom they belonged; and the farmers, who held their land partly by feudal tenure, were obliged to render military service whenever their landlord required it. There were, besides these, a number of men celebrated for their valour, strength, or address in war, who were called aito, fighting-men or warriors. This title, the result of achievements in battle, was highly respected, and proportionably sought by the daring and ambitious. It was not, like the chieftainship and other prevailing distinctions, confined to any class, but open to all; and many from the lower ranks have risen, as warriors, to a high station in the community. Originally their weapons were simple, and formed of wood; they consisted of the spear, which the natives called patia or tao, made with the wood of the cocoanuttree, or of the aito, iron-wood, or casuarina. It was twelve or eighteen feet long, and about an inch or an inch and a half in diameter at the middle or the lower end, but tapering off to a point at the other. The spears of the inhabitants of Rurutu and other of the Austral Islands are remarkable for their great length and elegant shape, as well as for the high polish with which they are finished. The omore, or club, was another weapon used by them; it was always made of the aito, or iron-wood, and was principally of two kinds-either short and heavy, like a bludgeon, for the purpose of close combat, or long, and furnished with a broad lozenge-shaped blade. The Tahitians did not often carve or ornament their weapons, but by the inhabitants of the southern islands they were frequently very neatly, though partially, carved. The inhabitants of the Marquesas carve their spears, and ornament them with human hair;* and the natives of the Hervey Islands, with the Friendly and Figian islanders, construct their weapons with taste, and carve them with remarkable ingenuity. The pacho was a terrific sort of weapon, although it was principally used at the heva, or seasons of mourning. It resembled in some degree a club; but, having the inner side armed with large sharks' teeth, it was not used for striking a blow, but for almost embowelling those assailed. Another weapon of the same kind resembled a short sword; but instead of one blade it had three, four, or five. It was usually made of a forked aito branch; the central and exterior branches, after having been pointed and polished, were armed along the outside with a thick line of sharks' teeth, very firmly fixed in the wood. This was only used in close combat, and, when applied to the naked bodies of the combatants, must have been a terrific weapon. The bowels or lower parts of the body were attacked with it, not for the purpose of piercing, as a dagger is used, but drawn across like a saw. They do not use the patia, or dagger, of the Sandwich This practice corresponds with that of the Malayans, among whom Dr. Buchanan saw a chief, the top of whose spear was ornamented with a tuft of hair which he had taken from a vanquished foe, as he lay dying or dead at his feet. DRESS AND WEAPONS. 231 Islands, but substitute an equally fatal weapon, the aero fai, a serrated back-bone of the sting-ray, and the hoto, a short dart-like weapon, barbed and pointed with this or other fish-bones, which, being rugged on the edges, and barbed towards the point, is very destructive in a dexterous hand. Some of the natives of the Palliser Islands used the ihi, javelin or short spear, while fighting at a distance, and the South Sea islanders use the tiora, a polished dart about three feet long, cast from the hand generally in their naval engagements, but occasionally on land. The paro, or large mother-of-pearl oyster-shell, was also used in cutting the throats, or severing the heads from the bodies of those who were overcome. The dress and ornaments of the warriors of Tahiti and the adjacent islands were singular, and unlike those of most savage nations, being often remarkably cumbersome. Their helmets, though less elegant and imposing than the fine Grecian-formed helmet of the Hawaiians, were adapted to produce considerable effect. Some of the Tahitians wore only a fillet or bandage round the temples; but many had a quantity of cloth bound round in the form of a high turban, which not only tended to increase their apparent stature, but broke the force of a blow from a club, or a thrust from a spear. The most elegant headdresses, however, were those worn by the inhabitants of the Austral Islands, Tubuai, Rurutu, &c. Their helmets were considerably diversified in form, some resembling a tight round cap, fitted closely to the head, with a light plume waving on the summit. Those used by the natives of Tubuai and High Island resembled an officer's cocked-hat, worn with the ends projecting over each shoulder, the front beau tifully ornamented with the green and red wing and tail feathers of a species of paroquet. The Rurutuan helmet* is graceful in appearance, and useful in the protection it affords to the head of the wearer. It was a cap fitted to the head, and reaching to the ears, made of thick stiff native cloth, on a cane frame-work. The lower part of the front is ornamented with bunches of beautiful red and green feathers, tastefully arranged, and above these a line of the long slender tail-feathers * A Rurutuan helmet, a number of spears, a paeho, and many of the impleplements of war here described, have been deposited in the Missionary Museum, Austin Friars, London. of the tropic or man-of-war bird is fixed on a wickerframe; the hinder part of the cap is covered with long flowing human hair, of a light brown or tawny colour, said to be human beard; this is fastened to a slight network attached to the crown of the helmet, and, being detached from any other part, often floats wildly in the wind, and increases the agitated appearance of the wearer. On each side, immediately above the ears, numerous pieces of mother-of-pearl and other shells are fastened, not as plates or scales, but depending in a bunch, and attached to the helmet by a small strong cord, similar to those passing under the chin, by which the helmet is fastened to the head. These shells, when shaken by the movements of the wearer's head, produce a rattling noise, which heightens the din of savage warfare. The Rurutuan helmet, though more complete and useful, was far less imposing than the fau worn by the Georgian and Society islanders. This was also a cap fitted closely to the head, surrounded by a cylindrical structure of cane-work, ornamented with the dark glossy feathers of aquatic birds. The hollow crown frequently towered two or three feet above the head, and, being curved at the top, appeared to nod or bend with every movement of the wearer. This was a headdress in high esteem, and worn only by distinguished men, who were generally sought out by the warriors in the opposing army. To subdue or kill a man who wore a fau was one of the greatest feats. I have been often told by a gigantic man who resided some time in my house, and was one of the warriors of Eimeo, that when the army of the enemy has come in sight they used to look out for the fau rising above the rest of the army, and, when they have seen one, pointing to it, animate each other by the exclamation, man with the fau; ha! whosoever shall obtain him, it will be enough." But, however imposing in appearance these high helmets may have been, they afforded no defence; and, although formed only of cane-work and feathers, must have been inconvenient. 1 ПС The slingers, and the most light and agile among the fighting men, wore in battle only a maro, a loose mantle, or ahubu. Some of the fighting men wore a kind of armour of net-work, formed by small cords, wound round the body DRESS AND WEAPONS. 233 and limbs so tight as merely to allow of the unencumbered exercise of the legs and arms, and not to impede the circulation of the blood; or the ruuruu, a kind of wooden armour for the breast, back, and sides, covered with successive folds of thick cloth, bound on with ropes. Over this a costly cloth was spread. The head was guarded with a corresponding quantity of cloth; and, thus defended, the warrior, secure against either club or spear, was generally stationed with the main body of the army, though so encumbered as to render retreat impracticable, and, in the event of the defeat of his companions, was invariably captured or slain, In general, the dress of the Tahitian warriors must have been exceedingly troublesome. To make an imposing appearance, and defend their persons, seem to have been the only ends at which they aimed; differing greatly in this respect from the Hawaiians, who seldom thought of guarding themselves, but adopted a dress that would least impede their movements. The Tahitians went to battle in their best clothes, sometimes perfumed with fragrant oil, and adorned with flowers; and whether they wore only the light tiputa, or the cumbrous ruuruu, which left only the arms at liberty, the whole was bound round the waist with a finely braided sash or girdle. On the breast they wore a handsome military gorget, ingeniously wrought with mother-of-pearl shells, white and coloured feathers, and dog's hair. Puhi Their ancient dresses and weapons have, since their intercourse with Europeans been superseded in a great degree by the introduction of firearms, the bayonet, and the sword. Pupuhi is the general name for gun. signifies to blow with the mouth, pupuhi to blow repeatedly; and this name has been given to a musket, from the circumstance of the foreigners whom the natives first saw firing bending down the head on one side to take aim, and bringing the mouth nearly in contact with the piece, into or through the barrel of which they supposed the person blew, and thus produced the explosion; hence it is called the blower. They imagined that the first ships they saw were islands; their inhabitants supernatural, vindictive, and revengeful beings. The flag of one of the first vessels hanging from the ship into the water, a native approached and took a piece of it away; this being per |