EXPERT SLINGERS. 
291 
The most expert slingers, as well as the most 
renowned among the warriors, were celebrated 
through the islands; and when one of these pre¬ 
sented himself, a cry ran through the opposite 
ranks: Beware, or be vigilant, e ofai mau omea —an 
adhering stone is such a one ; or e ofai tano e ofai 
buai —a sure or a powerful stone is such an one. 
The stones, which were usually about the size of 
a hen's egg, were either smooth, being polished by 
friction in the bed of a river, or sharp, angular, 
and rugged; these were called ofai ara —faced or 
edged stones. When thrown with any degree of 
elevation, they were seen and avoided, but they 
were generally thrown horizontally four or five feet 
from the ground, when they were with difficulty 
seen, and often did much execution. The slingers 
were powerful and expert marksmen. 
The custom of the warriors sitting on the ground 
to wait for the combat, was not the only singular 
practice of the Tahitians in proceeding to battle. 
There was another, which they called pito. When 
two leading chiefs marched together to the onset, 
they not only walked side by side, but arm in arm. 
In this manner, Pomare-vahine, and Mahine, the 
chiefs of Huahine and Eimeo, marched to the bat¬ 
tle of Narii. This was designed to shew their 
union, and that they would conquer or fall toge¬ 
ther. When a single chief led on his own men, 
he also walked in pito with his principal aito or 
warriors, two on each side, the nearest to him hav¬ 
ing hold of his arms. On approaching the enemy 
they separated, but fought near the person of 
their chieftain, whose life it was considered their spe¬ 
cial duty to defend, at the exposure of their own. 
The battle sometimes terminated by both parties 
retreating, to recover, and prepare for a fresh 
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