292

PUBLIC FESTIVALS

“ as I judged, the two chiefs who had collected“ them by order of Feenow, who seemed to be“ as implicitly obeyed here as he had been at“ Anamooka : and in consequence of his com-“ manding superiority over the chiefs of Ha-“ paee, had laid this tax upon them for the“ present occasion.

“ As soon as this munificent collection of“ provisions was laid down in order, and dis-“ posed to the best advantage, the bearers of it“joined the multitude, who formed a large“ circle round the whole. Presently after, a“ number of men entered this circle or area be-“ fore us, armed with clubs made of the green“ branches of the cocoa-nut tree. These pa-“ raded about for a few minutes and then re-“ tired j the one half to one side and the other“ half to the other side, seating themselves be-“ fore the spectators. Soon after, they suc-“ cessively entered the lists, and entertained us“ with single combats. One champion rising“ up and stepping forward from one side, chal-“ lenged those of the other side, by expressive“ gestures more than by words, to send one of“ their body to oppose him. If the challenge“ was accepted, which was generally the case,“ the two combatants put themselves in proper“ attitudes, and then began the engagement,“ which continued till one or other owned him*