THE GAME FOWL. 229 



drawing-rooms were invented hereabouts, these little turns-up 

 were unthinkingly made a source of amusement. Read what 

 an observant traveller, and really estimable man, who could 

 not himself have been deficient in courage, either physical or 

 moral, has recorded : 



"The most ancient, but certainly not the most innocent 

 game among the Tahitians, was the faatito-raamoa } literally, 

 the causing fighting among Fowls, or Cock-fighting. The Ta- 

 hitians do not appear to have staked any property, or laid any 

 bets, on their favourite birds, but to have trained and fought 

 them for the sake of the gratification they derived from be- 

 holding them destroy each other. lLong before the first foreign 

 vessel was seen off their shores, they were accustomed to train 

 and fight their birds. The Fowls designed for fighting were 

 fed with great care ; a finely-carved fatapua, or stand, was 

 made as a perch for the birds. This was planted in the house, 

 and the bird fastened to it by a piece of curious cinct, braided 

 flat, that it might not injure the leg. No other substance would 

 have been secure against the attacks of his beak. Their food 

 was chiefly poe, or bruised bread-fruit, rolled up in the hand, 

 like paste, and given in small pieces. The Fowl was taught 

 to open his mouth to receive his food and his water, which was 

 poured from his master's hand. It was customary to sprinkle 

 water over these birds to refresh them. The natives were 

 universally addicted to this sport. The inhabitants of one 

 district often matched their birds against those of another divi- 

 sion. They do not appear to have entertained any predi- 

 lection for particular colour in the Fowls, but seem to have 

 esteemed all alike. They never trimmed any of the feathers, 

 but were proud to see them with heavy wings, full-feathered 

 necks, and long tails. They also accustomed them to fight 

 without artificial spurs, or other means of injury. In order 

 that the birds might be as fresh as possible, they fought them 

 early in the morning, soon after day-break, while the air was 



20 



