350 FROM CALIFORNIA TO 



forwards, stooping, and, at the same time, always 

 throwing their lances. The parties in the mean- 

 time, stand motionless, awaiting the issue ; a high 

 spirit animates the party whose leader is victorious, 

 which they consider as a good omen. After this 

 prelude, both sides become animated ; troop ad- 

 vances against troop ; in a moment, all is activity, 

 and the air is full of blunted lances, for such only, 

 are allowed in this combat. Their art of war con- 

 sists in breaking the lines of the enemy, in attacking 

 single parts with superior force, and making prison- 

 ers; for this reason, a skilful leader never fails to 

 take advantage of his opponent's mistakes, or to 

 induce him by a stratagem to draw his main force 

 to one side, and so to expose the weaker part. If 

 these stratagems succeed, the victory is decided, 

 and the party out-manoeuvred submits. The method 

 of proceeding in real battles is precisely the same, 

 with this difference, tliat the lances are so pointed, 

 as to pierce tlie enemy at a distance often paces; 

 they also hurl stones in their battles, and make 

 use of large clubs of heavy wood. As fire-arms 

 have now been introduced, the use of lances will 

 probably soon go out of fashion. Tamaahmaah 

 is universally acknowledged to be the most skilful 

 lance thrower ; he has often, to prove his dexterity, 

 suffered fourteen lances to be aimed at his breast, 

 where every throw would have been fatal, and 

 avoided them all with the greatest dexterity. The 

 renown of his invincible valour made the conquest 



