WRESTLING MATCHES. 
207 
Unbroken silence and deep attention was mani¬ 
fested during the struggle; but as soon as one 
was thrown, the scene was instantly changed; the 
vanquished was scarcely stretched on the sand, 
when a shout of exultation burst from the victor’s 
friends. Their drums struck up; the women rose, 
and danced in triumph over the fallen wrestler, 
and sung in defiance to the opposite party. These 
were neither silent nor unmoved spectators, but 
immediately commenced a most deafening noise, 
partly in honour of their own clan or tribe, but 
principally to mar and neutralize the triumph of 
the victors. It is not easy to imagine the scenes 
that must often have been presented at one of 
their taupitis, or great wrestling matches, when 
not less than four or five thousand persons, 
dressed in their best apparel ? and exhibiting every 
variety of costume and brillancy of colour, were 
under the influence of excitement. One party were 
drumming, dancing, and singing, in the pride of 
victory, and the menace of defiance ; while, to 
increase the din and confusion, the other party 
were equally vociferous in reciting the achieve¬ 
ments of the vanquished, or predicting the short¬ 
ness of his rival’s triumph. 
However great the clamour might be, as soon 
as the wrestlers who remained in the ring engaged 
again, the drums ceased, the song was discon¬ 
tinued, and the dancers sat down. All was per¬ 
fectly silent, and the issue of the second struggle 
was awaited with as great an intensity of interest 
as the first. If the vanquished man had a friend 
or taio in the ring, he usually arose, and chal¬ 
lenged the victor, who having gained one triumph, 
either left the ring, which it was considered 
honourable for him to do, or remained and awaited 
