278 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
were offered to Oro, in numbers proportioned to 
the magnitude of the undertaking, or the force of 
the parties confederated. 
While these ceremonies were proceeding, na¬ 
tional councils were held. Peace, or war, was 
usually determined by a few leading individuals, 
including the king, priests, and the principal chiefs. 
The prayers and sacrifices offered, oracles con¬ 
sulted, responses received, and councils held, were 
only parts of the external machinery by which, as 
it regarded the mass of the population, these move¬ 
ments were directed. This, however, was not 
always the case, and peace or war was often the 
result of the impressions produced by the popular 
orators on the general assemblies. These harangues 
were specimens of the most impassioned natural 
eloquence, bold and varied in its figures, and im¬ 
pressive in its effects. 
I never had an opportunity of attending one of 
their national councils when the question of war 
was debated, under the imposing influence im¬ 
parted by their mythology, whereby they ima¬ 
gined the contention between the gods of the 
rivals was as great as that sustained by the parties 
themselves. A number of the figures and expres 
sions used on these occasions are familiar; but, 
-detached and translated, they lose their force* 
From what I have beheld in their public speeches, 
in force of sentiment, beauty of metaphor, and 
effect of action, I can imagine that the impression 
of an eloquent harangue, delivered by an ardent 
warrior, armed perhaps for combat, and aided by 
the influence of highly excited feeling, could pro¬ 
duce no ordinary effect; and I have repeatedly 
heard Mr. Nott declare, (and no one can better ap¬ 
preciate native eloquence,) he would at any time go 
