250 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
withstanding this^ the assailants met with steady and 
determined resistance. 
Overpowered, however, by numbers, the mriy or front 
ranks, were obliged to give way. A kind of running fight 
commenced, and the parties were intermingled in all the 
confusion of barbarous warfare. 
Here might the hideous face of war be seen, 
. ' Stript of all pomp, adornment, and disguise.” 
The ground on which they now fought, excepting that 
near the sea-beach, was partially covered with trees 
and bushes; which at times separated the contending 
parties, and intercepted their view of each other. Under 
these circumstances it was, that the Christians, when 
not actually engaged with their enemies, often kneeled 
down on the grass, either singly or two or three together, 
and offered up an ejaculatory prayer to God—that he 
u^ould cover their heads in the day of battle, and, if 
agreeable to his will, preserve them, but especially 
prepare them for the results of the day, whether victory 
or defeat, life or death. 
The battle continued to rage with fierceness ; several 
were killed on both sides; the idolaters still pursued their 
way, and victory seemed to attend their desolating march, 
until they came to the position occupied by Mahine, 
Pomare-vahine, and their companions in arms. The 
advanced ranks of these united bands met, and arrested 
the progress of the hitherto victorious idolaters. One 
of Mahine’s men, Raveae,^ pierced the body of Upufaray 
* In 1818 this individual accompanied u$ to Huahine, where he died 
a short time before I left the islands* 
