302 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
and the stone from the sling, both of which they used 
in battle, they were accustomed to set up a mark, and 
practised, that they might throw with precision, as well 
as force. In the Sandwich Islands, they are used also 
as an amusement, especially in shooting rats, but are not 
included in their accoutrements for battle ; while in the 
Friendly Islands, the bow was not only employed on occa¬ 
sions of festivity, but also used in war ; this, however, may 
have arisen from their proximity to the Feejee Islands, 
where it is a general weapon. In the Society and 
Sandwich Islands, it is now altogether laid aside, in 
consequence of its connexion with their former idolatry. 
I do not think the Missionaries ever inculcated its 
discontinuance, but the adults do not appear to have 
thought of following this or any other game, since 
Christianity has been introduced among them. 
The most ancient, but certainly not the most inno¬ 
cent game among the Tahitians, was the faatitoraa- 
moaj literally, the causing fighting among fowls, or 
cock-fighting. The traditions of the people state, that 
fowls have existed in the islands as long as the people, 
that they came with the first colonists by whom the 
islands were peopled, or that they were made by Taaroa at 
the same time that men were made. The traditions and 
songs of the islanders, connected with their amusements, 
are as ancient as any in existence among them. The 
Tahitians do not appear to have staked any property, 
or laid any bets, on their favourite birds, but to have 
trained and fought them for the sake of the gratification 
they derived from beholding them destroy each other. 
Long before the first foreign vessel was seen off their 
shores, they were accustomed to train and to fight 
their birds. The fowls designed for fighting were 
