56 cook's voyage to sept. 



advantage to the adversary. At last, after advancing 

 and retreating from each other at least a dozen times, 

 the two canoes closed head to head, or stage to stage ; 

 and, after a short conflict, the troops on our stage 

 were supposed to be all killed, and we were boarded 

 by Omai and his associates. At that very instant, 

 Otoo and all our paddlers leaped overboard, as if re- 

 duced to the necessity of endeavouring to save their 

 lives by swimming. 



IfOmai's information is to be depended upon, their 

 naval engagements are not always conducted in this 

 manner. He told me, that they sometimes begin 

 with lashing the two vessels together, head to head, 

 and then fight till all the warriors are killed on one side 

 or the other. But this close combat, I apprehend, is 

 never practised but when they are determined to 

 conquer or die. Indeed, one or the other must hap- 

 pen ; for all agree that they never give quarter, un- 

 less it be to reserve their prisoners for a more cruel 

 death the next day. 



The power and strength of these islands lie entirely 

 in their navies. I never heard of a general engage- 

 ment on land ; and all their decisive battles are 

 fought on the water. If the time and place of con- 

 flict are fixed upon by both parties, the preceding 

 day and night are spent in diversions and feast- 

 ing. Toward morning they launch the canoes, 

 put every thing in order, and, with the day, 

 begin the battle, the fate of which generally de- 

 cides the dispute. The vanquished save themselves 

 by a precipitate flight ; and such as reach the shore 

 fly with their friends to the mountains ; for the vic- 

 tors, while their fury lasts, spare neither the aged, 

 women, nor children. The next day they assemble 

 at the morai, to return thanks to the Eatooa for the 

 victory, and to offer up the slain as sacrifices, and 

 the prisoners also, if they have any. After this, a 

 treaty is set on foot, and the conquerors for the 

 most part obtain their own terms, by which parti- 



