POLYNESIAN RESIiARCHES. 
2cSi 
CHAP. XL 
Account of the music and amusements of the islanders—Description of 
the sacred drum—Heiva drum, &c. Occasions of their use—The bu or 
trumpet—Ihara—^The vivo, or flute—General character of their 
songs—Ballads, a kind of Classical authority—Entertainments and 
amusements—Taupiti, or festival—Wrestling and. boxing—Effects 
of -victory and defeat—Foot-races—Martial games—Sham fights— 
Naval reviews—Apai, bandy or cricket—Tuiraa, or foot-ball—The 
haruraa puu, a female game—Native dances—Heiva, &c.—The te-a, 
or archery—Bows and arrows—Religious ceremonies connected with 
the game—Cock-fighting—^Aquatic sports—Swimming on the surf— 
Danger from sharks—Juvenile amusements. 
With the ancient idolatry of the people, their music, 
their dances, and the whole circle of their amuse¬ 
ments, had been so intimately blended, that the one 
could not survive the other. When the former was 
abolished, the latter were also discontinued. Their 
music wanted almost every quality that could render it 
agreeable to the ear accustomed to harmony, and was 
deficient in all that constitutes excellence. It was 
generally boisterous and wild, and^ with the exception of 
the soft and plaintive warblings of the native flute, was 
distinguished by nothing so much as its discordant, 
deafening sounds. 
The principal musical instrument used by the South 
Sea Islanders, was the pahu^ or drum. This varied in 
size and shape, according to the purpose for which it 
was designed. Their drums were all cut out of a solid 
piece of wood. The block out of which they were 
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