THROUGH HAWAII. 
187 
cellence of the play consists in the dexterity with which 
the pahe is thrown. On these occasions two darts are 
laid down at a certain distance, three or four inches 
apart, and he who, in a given number of times, throws 
his dart most frequently between these two, without 
striking either of them, wins the game. At other times 
it is a mere trial of strength; and those win who, in a 
certain number of times, throw their darts farthest. A 
mark is made in the ground, to designate the spot from 
which they are to throw it. The players, balancing the 
pahe in their right hand, retreat a few yards from this 
spot, and then springing forward to the mark, dart it 
along the ground with great velocity. The darts remain 
wherever they stop till all are thrown, when the whole 
party run to the other end of the floor, to see whose 
have been the most successful throws. This latter 
game is very laborious, yet we have known the men 
of whole districts engage in it at once, and have seen 
them playing several hours together, under the scorch¬ 
ing rays of a vertical sun. 
On the same tahua or floor they also play at another 
game, resembling the pahe, which they call maita or uni 
maita. Two sticks are stuck in the ground only a few 
inches apart, at a distance of thirty or forty yards, and 
between these, but without striking either, the parties 
at play strive to throw their stone; at other times, the 
only contention is, who can bowl it farthest along the 
tahua or floor. The uru, which they use instead of a 
dart, is a circular stone admirably adapted for rolling, 
being of compact lava, or a white alluvial rock, (found 
principally in the island of Oahu,) about three or four 
inches in diameter, an inch in thickness around the 
edge, but thicker, and consequently heavier, in the 
