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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
Oro was the principal war god, but he was not the 
only deity whose influence was important on these occa¬ 
sions. Tairi, Maahiti, Tetuahuruhuru, and Rimaroa, 
long hand, or arm,"^ the ancient gods of war, were all 
deities of the first rank, having been created by Taaroa, 
according to their fabulous traditions, before Oro ex¬ 
isted. 
In modern times, Oro’s influence has been principally 
sought in every war. This they imagined was the chief 
object of his attention; and when it proceeded in its 
bloodiest forms, it was supposed to afford him the highest 
satisfaction. Somewhat of his imagined character may 
be inferred from the fact of his priest requiring every 
victim offered in sacrifice, to be covered with its own 
blood, in order to his acceptance. 
When war was in agitation, the first human sacrifice 
that was offered to Oro was the Matea: this was called 
fetching the god to preside over the nuu or army. The 
god was brought out; when the victim was offered, a red 
feather was taken from his person, and given to the 
party, who bore it to their companions, and considered it 
as the symbol of his presence and sanction, during their 
subsequent preparations. Another human sacrifice was 
now taken, called the Maui faatere, ^Hhe throwing or 
darting” equivalent to the public declaration of war, and 
such it was also considered by the opposing party. In 
1808, when the late Pomare heard that Taute, his former 
chief minister, and the most celebrated warrior in the 
nation, had joined the rebel chiefs, and that the Maui 
faatere had been offered, and the sanction of the gods 
thus implored, he was so affected that he wept; and it 
was in vain that one of his orators, in alluding to this 
event subsequently, exclaimed. Who is Taute ? He is a 
