124 v POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES* 
Kekuaokalani, who was his own sister’s son. He 
delayed the engagement as long as possible; and, 
the same morning that the battle took place, sent 
a messenger, addressing the young chief as his 
son, and requesting him to refrain from hostilities 
till they could have an interview, and, if possible, 
effect an accommodation. But the message was 
rejected, and the messenger obliged to jump into 
the sea, and swim to save his life. In the mo¬ 
ment of victory, also, he acted with humanity; 
and, contrary to the usual custom, the van¬ 
quished were not pursued, and murdered in their 
retreats, A little way south of the spot where 
the chief fell, was a small cave, into which, in the 
confusion that followed the death of Kekuao¬ 
kalani, a woman attached to his party crept, and, 
drawing a piece of lava over its mouth, remained 
until night, beneath whose friendly cover she fled 
to the mountains, not knowing that the victors 
had returned without pursuing their foes. The 
wives of warriors often accompanied their hus¬ 
bands to battle, and were frequently slain. Their 
practice, in this respect, resembled that of the 
Society Islanders on similar occasions. They 
generally followed in the rear, carrying cala¬ 
bashes of water, or of poe, a little dried fish, or 
other portable provision, with which to recruit 
their husbands’ strength when weary, or afford a 
draught of water when thirsty or faint; but they 
followed, more particularly, to be at hand if their 
husbands should be wounded. 
Some women, more courageous than the rest, 
or urged on by affection, advanced side by side 
with their husbands to the front of the battle, 
bearing a small calabash of water in one hand, 
and a spear, a dart, or a stone, in the other; and, in 
