POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 485 
had expected^ and were not only repulsed, but almost 
cut off. Mato, the father of the present king of Huahine, 
and general of the army, was slain. The survivors were 
glad to return to their own island, and the Raiateans 
were too much enfeebled to prevent them. 
In this war, the greater part of the chiefs and war¬ 
riors of the Leeward or Society Islands were destroyed. 
The island of Huahine never recovered from the shock of 
this murderous conflict. 
The slaughter of the routed army was continued till 
the evening closed on the scene of murder and of blood, 
or until the fugitives had either reached their fortifica¬ 
tions and strongholds in the mountains, or had eluded 
the pursuit of their enemies. When the men went to 
battle, the women generally remained; but some of 
them fearlessly attended their husbands to the field, 
and either followed in the rear, or fought in the midst 
of the ranks. They carried the same kind of weapons 
as the men, but frequently used only their nails and their 
hands. Many were slain in the field, or during the 
retreat. 
The flags of the gods, or the emblems of the idols, were 
carried to the battle, to inspirit the combatants, but the 
marshal banners they employed were hoisted on board 
the different fleets. Rude and harsh kinds of music 
were sometimes heard in their canoes, but I do not know 
that they were used by the armies on shore. 
It is a singular fact, that although they left their 
images in their respective temples, no offerings were 
presented after the haumanava had been performed, and 
no sacrifice was deposited on the altars of any of the 
temples, lest the gods should hereby be induced to for¬ 
sake the army, and remain behind. 
