194 
WAR CEREMONIES. 
plied that he accepted the invitation ; so in Israel, when Saul 
heard of the threat of Nahash against the men of Jabesh, he 
hewed a yoke of oxen in pieces and sent the flesh through- 
out all the coasts of Israel (See 1 Sam. xi., 7, and Judges 
xxx., 29). 
In former days war was generally waged every summer, 
it was the regular occupation of chiefs, if they did not engage 
in it, they were said to have nga ringa ringa mahi hai , the 
hands of husbandmen, this was the reproach of a Ngapuhi 
chief, who was killed by a Wanganui native ; he was told he 
had the hands of a laborer and not those of a warrior, as he 
did not kill him at once, but so clumsily as to cause him to 
linger for several hours. 
A gentleman was not considered to have finished his 
education until he had joined a war party and slain his 
man, as sure as summer came, war accompanied it, this 
seems to have been almost the same everywhere ; it was so 
in Israel and the surrounding countries (see 2 Sam. xi., 1), 
even amongst ourselves the custom has scarcely ceased of 
noblemen sending their sons to learn the profession of arms, 
as it is politely termed. Some even yet go to Austria, 
Prussia, or Russia to acquire this accomplishment in the 
greatest perfection. 
When Commodore Wilkes of the American Scientific Ex- 
pedition came into collision with the Fiji natives, and com- 
pelled them to sue for peace, they did it by sending a young 
female with a white cock in her hands as a peace offering ; 
as she was not accepted two young daughters of a very high 
chief were next offered to him. 
This is also a Maori custom. Pomare, a great chief of 
the Ngapuhis, in the Bay of Islands, did the same to the 
Governor, Sir J. Grey, as a token of his desire to make 
peace, he sent his two daughters to him as a present, and 
both he and they were greatly offended because they were 
not accepted. One of the officers however then stationed in 
the Bay was not so fastidious, he secured one, and some one 
else the other. 
The name of the one taken by the officer was Nga Huia, 
