292 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
haps reputed wrestlers. Persons in the highest rank 
sometimes engaged in the sport; and the sister of the 
queen has been seen wearing nearly the same clothing 
as the wrestlers wore, covered all over with sand, 
and wrestling with a young chief, in the midst 
of a ring, around which thousands of the people were 
assembled. 
On all great public festivals, wrestling was succeeded 
by the Moto raa, or Boxing. This does not appear to 
have been so favourite an amusement with the Tahitians 
as wrestling; and there was generally a smaller number 
to engage. It was mostly practised by the lower orders 
and servants of the areois, and was with them, as 
boxing is every where, savage work; though, con¬ 
sidering the rude and barbarous state of the people, 
who had little idea of influence or power, but as con¬ 
nected with their gods, or with mere brute strength, 
we are not surprised that it should have existed. 
The challenge was given in the same way as in 
wrestling; but when the combatants engaged, the 
combat was much sooner ended, and no time was spent 
in sparring or parrying the blows. These were 
generally straight forward, severe, and heavy; usually 
aimed at the head. They fought with the naked 
fist, and the whole skin of the forehead has been 
at times torn or driven off at a blow. No one inter¬ 
fered with thfei combatants while engaged ; but as soon 
as either of them fell, or stooped, or shunned his 
antagonist, he was considered vanquished, the battle 
closed, and was instantly succeeded by the shouts and 
dances of triumph. 
These barbarous sports, though generally followed by 
the common people, were not confined to them; other 
