TE PITO TE HENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND. 520 



a deadly lend raged. Long and bloody wars were kept up, and great 

 distress prevailed on account of the destruction and neglect of* the crops. 

 This unsatisfactory state of affairs was brought to an end, after many 

 years' lighting, by a desperate Wattle, in which the "long ears" had 

 planned the utter annihilation of their enemies. A long and deep ditch 

 was dug across Hoto-iti and covered with brush-wood, and into this the 

 "long ears" arranged to drive their enemies, when the brush-wood 

 was to besetou lire and every man exterminated. The trap was found 

 out, and the plan circumvented by opening the battle prematurely and 

 in the night. The "long ears" were driven into the ditch they had 

 built, and murdered to a man. 



After the defeat and utter annihilation of the "loug-eared race," 

 the tradition goes on to state that peace reigned on the island, and the 

 people increased in numbers and prosperity. In the course of time 

 dissensions arose between the different families or clans, which led to 

 open hostilities. Kaina, the chief of the Hotu-iti clan, and a descend- 

 ant of the sixth son of the first king, proved himself a valiant warrior, 

 and his possessions were increased by encroachments upon the domain 

 of his neighbors. He died and was succeeded by his son, Iluriavai, 

 who inaugurated his introduction into the office by a three days' en- 

 gagement, in which the chiefs of two neighboring clans were killed. 

 Several claus now combined forces, and alter desperate lighting the 

 Hotu-iti people were defeated, half of them taking refuge in a cave on 

 the face of the cliff on the northeast side of the island, and the rest 

 on the islet of Marotiri. 



The besieged parties were watched night and day by their vigilant 

 enemies, and were finally reduced to the verge of starvation. A chief, 

 named Poya, had just finished a large double canoe at Ilanga-roa, 

 which he called Tuapoi. This was dragged across the island and 

 launched at Anahava. .Every day tin's canoe, filled with fighting men, 

 cruised around the islet of Maroiri, making attacks upon the besieged 

 Hotu-iti people whenever opportunity offered. As the people were 

 reduced by privations, the number of prisoners captured increased day 

 by day. The captives were; taken to a place called Hanga-wi-aihi- 

 toke-rau and portioned out to the different clans, and were immediately 

 cooked and eaten. This is said to In- the origin of cannibalism on the 

 island, and is supposed to have been prompted by revenge. 



Cannibalism, however, proved a double-pointed sword that caused 

 dissensions in the ranks, and finally resulted in the liberation of a part 

 of the besieged people. A chief named Oho-taka-tore happened to lie 



absent upon one occasion, and upon his return found the bodies had all 

 been distributed and his claims completely ignored, lie demanded 

 his share of t he spoils, and was informed t hat " a man who sleeps late 



in the morning can not expect to see the sun rise." Feeling degraded 



by the slight, Oho-taka-tore turned his feather-hat hind-side before, to 

 H. Mis. 224, pt. 2 34 



