POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
491 
through the opposite ranks. Beware^ or be vigilant, 
€ ofai mau o me a —an adhering stone is such a one; or 
e ofai tano e ofai huai —a sure or a povrerful stone is 
such an one. The stones, which were usually about the 
size of a bend’s egg, were either smooth, being polished by 
friction in the bed of a river, or sharp, angular, and 
rugged; these were called ofai ara —faced or edged stones. 
When thrown with any degree of elevation, they were 
seen and avoided, but they were generally thrown hori¬ 
zontally four or five feet from the ground, when they 
were with difficulty seen, and often did much execution. 
The slingers were powerful and expert marksmen. 
