200 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
builder, a song for cutting down the tree, a song 
for launching the canoe. But they were, with 
few exceptions, either idolatrous or impure; and 
were, consequently, abandoned when the people 
renounced their pagan worship. Occasionally, 
however, we heard parts of these songs recited, 
when events have occurred similar to those on 
which, in former times, they would have been used. 
The following is one of their songs preparatory 
to war,— 
On the lifted club of Tane, great friend, I rely 
For defence from the storm (descending,) on the ship of 
peace, (or government,) 
To allay the raging deep, that it may rest, 
Let there be calm before the king, 
The king of the black purple deep, 
The king of the depths unknown, 
The king who fills with consternation ; 
But Hiro is that warrior, 
Broad is the back of Hiro, 
A back of vast expanse,* 
His eyes are deep-fixed and dark, 
His ear hangs not down in fear, 
Like the pike-fish is the hair on his bodj% 
Let the slung stone fly, 
Make sacred the council of war, 
The collected clubs of the house of warriors, 
Soon I will reveal my council, 
The sacred and scarlet feathers, and blood, 
The slinger who stands, 
The beloved, the favourite of kings, who sits, 
The war-dress of Tu, warrior of the sky. 
O Hiro, to whom shall I deliver the song of war ! 
Shall I declare it to Marama, the w^arrior born of Hiro 
Who came forth with skill (to arrange the battle,) 
With the savageness of the dog, the strength of the shark, 
That shall sever the head where the skull joins the neck, 
Causing the live bodies to run headless, 
And shall pile dead bodies high as the temple walls, 
In the cocoa-grove, at Taumau,f let us encamp, 
* The name of one of their gods, t A small island whence the 
lluahine fieets saik-d. 
