290 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
When a distinguished chief or warrior fell, the 
party, to which he belonged, retired a short distance, 
collected some of their bravest men, and then, in 
a body, with fury and revenge rushed upon their 
antagonists, to vaere toto , clear away the blood. 
The shock was terrific when they met the opposing 
ranks, and numbers frequently fell on both sides. 
Two brothers, or intimate friends, often mani¬ 
fested in battle an affecting strength of attachment 
and constancy ; they fought side by side, espe¬ 
cially in the Duumata, in which no retreat was 
allowed ; and if one was killed, the survivor dipped 
his hand in the blood of his slain brother, and 
rubbed it on his own person, to manifest his 
affection, alleviate his grief, and stimulate to 
revenge. 
During the engagement, the parties often re¬ 
treated, so that there was a considerable space 
between the ranks, as when proceeding to the 
onset. The slingers were then employed; who 
often advanced in front of the ranks to which they 
belonged, and with boasting threats warned their 
enemies to fly or fall. The most dangerous missile 
was the vriti or stone, from the ma or sling. The 
latter was prepared with great care, and made 
with finely braided fibres of the cocoa-nut husk, 
or filaments of the native flax, having a loop to 
fasten it to the hand at one end, and a wide re¬ 
ceptacle for the stone in the centre. The sling 
was held in the right hand, and, armed with the 
stone, was hung over the right shoulder, and 
caught by the left hand on the left side of the 
back. When thrown, the sling, after being 
stretched across the back, was whirled round over 
the head, and the stone discharged with great 
force. 
