POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
303 
fed with great care; a finely carved fatcvpua, or stand, 
was made as a perch for the birds. This was 
planted in the house, and the bird fastened to it by a 
piece of curious cinet, braided flat that it might not 
injure the leg. No other substance would have been 
secure against the attacks of his beak. Their food 
was chiefly poe, or bruised bread-fruit, rolled up in 
the hand like paste, and given in small pieces. The 
fowl was taught to open his mouth to receive his 
food and his water, which was poured from his master’s 
hand. It was also customary to sprinkle water over 
these birds, to refresh them. 
The natives were universally addicted to this sport. 
The inhabitants of one district often matched their 
birds against those of another, or those of one division 
of a district against those of another division. They 
do not appear to have entertained any predilection 
for particular colour in the fowls, but seem to have 
esteemed all alike. They never trimmed any of the 
feathers, hut were proud to see them with heavy wings, 
full-feathered necks, and long tails. They also accus¬ 
tomed them to fight without artificial spurs, or other 
means of injury. In order that the birds might be 
as fresh as possible, they fought them early in the morn¬ 
ing, soon after day-break, while the air was cool, and 
before they became languid from the heat. More than 
two were seldom engaged at once, and so soon as 
one bird avoided the other, he was considered as vi, or 
beaten. Victory was declared in favour of his oppo¬ 
nent, and they were immediately parted. This amuse¬ 
ment was sometimes continued for several days suc¬ 
cessively. 
Like the inhabitants of most of the islands of the 
