500 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
sight, they used to look out for the fau rising above the 
rest of the army, and when they have seen one, pointing 
to it, animate each other by the exclamation, The man 
with the fau; ha ! whosoever shall obtain him, it will be 
enough.’’ But, however imposing in appearance these 
high helmets may have been, they afforded no defence; 
and although formed only of cane-work and feathers, 
must have been cumbersome. 
The slingers, and the most light and agile among the 
fighting men, wore, in battle, only a maro, a loose mantle, 
or ahubu. 
Some of the fighting men wore a kind of armour 
of net-work, formed by small cords, wound round 
the body and limbs, so tight, as merely to allow of the 
unencumbered exercise of the legs and arms, and not to 
impede the circulation of the blood. This kind of 
defence was principally serviceable in guarding from the 
blows of a club, or force of a stone, but was liable to be 
pierced by a spear. In general, however, the dress of 
the Tahitian warriors must have been exceedingly incon¬ 
venient. To make an imposing appearance, and defend 
their persons, seem to have been the only ends at which 
they aimed; differing greatly in this respect from the 
Hawaiians, who seldom thought of guarding themselves, 
but adopted a dress that would least impede their move¬ 
ments. 
The Tahitians went to battle in their best clothes, and 
often had the head, not only guarded by an immense 
turban, but the body enveloped in folds of cloth, until 
the covering was many inches in thickness, extending 
from the body almost to the elbows, where the whole 
was bound round the waist with a finely braided sash or 
girdle. On the breast they wore a handsome military 
