66 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the same vessel, for the purpose of preaching to the peo¬ 
ple, and affording the native Missionaries every assist¬ 
ance in the commencement of their undertaking. 
Finding, on their arrival, the vrhole of the small 
population of the island engaged in war, and on the 
eve of a battle, Mr. Nott and his companions repaired 
to the encampment of Tamatoa, who was, by hereditary 
right, the king of the island; acquainted him with the 
design of their visit, and recommended him to return to 
his ordinary place of abode. The king expressed his 
willingness to accede to the proposal, provided his rival, 
who was encamped but a short distance from him, and 
whom he expected on the morrow to engage, would also 
suspend hostilities. Paofai, a chief who accompanied 
Mr. Nott, went to Tahuhuatama, the chief of the oppo¬ 
site party, with a message to this effect. He was kindly 
received, his proposal agreed to, and a time appointed 
for the chiefs to meet midway between the hostile par¬ 
ties, and arrange the conditions of peace. 
On the same evening, or early the next morning, the 
chieftains with their adherents, probably not exceeding 
one hundred on either side, quitted their encampments, 
which were about a mile and a half or two miles apart, and 
proceeded to the appointed place of rendezvous. When 
they came within fifty yards of each other, they halted. 
The chiefs then left their respective bands, and met mid¬ 
way between them 3 they were attended by the Mission¬ 
aries, and after several propositions had been made by 
one party, and acceded to by the other, peace was con¬ 
cluded. The chiefs then embraced each other; and the 
warriors in each little army, wherein the nearest relations 
were probably arranged against each other, perceiving 
the reconciliation of their chiefs, dropped their imple- 
