386 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
On the same evening, or early the next morn¬ 
ing, the chieftains, with their adherents, probably 
not exceeding one hundred on either side, quitted 
their encampments, which were about a mile and 
a half or two miles apart, and proceeded to the 
appointed place of rendezvous. When they came 
within fifty yards of each other, they halted. The 
chiefs then left their respective bands, and met 
midway between them ; they were attended by the 
Missionaries, and, after several propositions had 
been made by one party, and acceded to by the 
other, peace was concluded. The chiefs then 
embraced each other; and the warriors in each 
little army, wherein the nearest relations were 
probably arrayed against each other, perceiving 
the reconciliation of their chiefs, dropped their 
implements of war, and, rushing into each other’s 
arms, presented a scene of gratulation and joy, 
very different from the murderous conflict in which 
they expected to have been engaged. They re¬ 
paired in company to the residence of the prin¬ 
cipal chief, where an entertainment was provided. 
Here the Missionaries had a second interview with 
the chiefs, who welcomed them to the island, and 
expressed their desires to be instructed concerning 
the true God, and the new religion, as they usually 
denominated Christianity. 
On the following morning, the inhabitants of 
Tubuai were invited to attend public worship, 
when Mr. Nott delivered, in a new building erected 
for the purpose, the first Christian discourse to 
which they had ever listened. It was truly gra¬ 
tifying to behold those, who had only the day 
before expected to have been engaged in shedding 
each other’s blood, now mingled in one quiet and 
attentive assembly, where the warriors of rival 
