Chap. IV. WAR-DANCE. Wf 
some deterred by the bad weather which had prevailed 
during the morning. He then took his station at the 
head of one of the parties into which the fighting-men 
were divided, " Dog's-ear" having marshalled the other 
at a little distance. 
Tf^arepori was dressed in a large hussar cloak be- 
longing to my uncle, to which he had taken a fancy, 
and brandished a handsome green-stone meri. His 
party having seated themselves in ranks, he suddenly 
rose from the ground and leaped high into the air with 
a tremendous yell. He was instantly imitated by his 
party, who sprang out of their clothes as if by magic, 
and left them in bundles on the ground. They then 
joined in a measured guttural song recited by their 
chief, keeping exact time by leaping high at each louder 
intonation, brandishing their weapons with the right 
hand, and slapping the thigh with the left as they 
came heavily upon the ground. The war-song warmed 
as it proceeded ; though still in perfect unison, they 
yelled louder and louder, leaped higher and higher, 
brandished their weapons more fiercely, and dropped 
with the smack on the thigh more heavily as they pro- 
ceeded, till the final spring was accompanied by a con- 
cluding whoop which seemed to penetrate one's marrow. 
After this preparatory stimulant, the two parties ran 
down to the beach, and took up positions facing each 
other at about two hundred yards' distance. They then 
repeated the dance ; and at its conclusion the two parties 
passed each other at full speed, firing their guns as they 
ran, and took up a fresh position nearer to each other. 
A small reinforcement was now brought up from 
Puakawas village at the mouth of the river to one 
of the parties ; and we were much surprised to see at 
the head of it Richard Davis, the missionary teacher, 
dressed in warlike costume, and his head iDedecked with 
VOL. I. H 
