188 DEATH OF KAWARAO. 



sition, Kawarao united an unbounded ambition, 

 which prompted him to make war on his kins 

 man Tameamea. This young and powerful 

 chief early distinguished himself, and soon be 

 came celebrated throughout these islands for 

 superiority of intellect and skill in arms. Ka 

 warao, although he had greatly the advantage 

 in numbers, could never obtain a victory ; fire 

 arms were not then in use here, and success 

 long vibrated between the contending rivals. 

 Both parties at length determined to put the 

 final issue of the war to the test of a single 

 combat, stipulating that the conqueror should 

 acquire the sovereignty of the whole island. 

 The two kings armed ; their respective priests 

 carried the images of their gods to the field, 

 and the fight commenced. Kawarao trusted to 

 his skill in throwing the javelin ; but Tameamea 

 could defend himself from several antagonists 

 at once, and scarcely ever missed his aim. After 

 some fruitless efforts of both combatants, Ta- 

 meamea s spear pierced the side of his blood 

 thirsty enemy, who fell dead on the field. 



This duel, by which Tameamea became King 

 of O Wahi and of Muwe, which had also belong- 



