POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
515 
of those who had sent the proposals made the first 
harangue; this was followed by a reply from the orator 
of the other party, who was sitting on the ground oppo¬ 
site, and ten or twenty yards distant. Each held in his 
hand a bunch of the sacred mero. The king or chiefs 
sat beside them, while the people stood around, at some 
distance. When the terms were agreed upon, the wreath 
of peace was woven with two or three green boughs, fur¬ 
nished by each, as the manufait%\he^ bond of reconciliation. 
Two young dogs were then exchanged by the respective 
parties, and the apa pia brought; it was a long strip of 
apa, or cloth, white on one side, and red on the other; 
the materials were furnished, and the cloth was joined 
together, by both parties, in token of their union, and 
imprecations were invoked on those who should hae, or 
rend, the apa pia^ or band of peace. The apa pia and 
the green boughs were then offered to the gods, and they 
were called upon to avenge the treachery of those who 
should rend the band, or break the wreath. Divina¬ 
tions were also sometimes used, to know whether it 
would be of a long or a short continuance. 
Feasting followed the ceremony, together with the 
usual native games j besides which, religious rites were 
performed. The first was the maioi, when vast quan¬ 
tities of food were taken to the king, and large offerings 
to the gods, together with prayers for the establishment 
and prosperity of the reign. Another was called the 
oburoa na te arii, and consisted also in offerings to the 
gods, with prayers for their support, and a large present 
of food to the principal warrior chief, under the king, as 
an acknowledgment of his important service in the 
recent struggles, and his influence in establishing the 
king in his government. 
