MODES OF WARFARE. 155 
hanging the paths leading to the fortification, 
which they rolled down on the heads of their 
enemies. 
Sometimes they engaged in fleets amounting to 
upwards of one hundred canoes on each side. 
The Sandwich Islands not being surrounded with 
coral reefs, there is but little smooth water; and 
the roughness of the sea, most likely, induced 
them generally to select terra firma for their theatre 
of war. 
Whenever they expected an action, they pro¬ 
ceeded to hoonoho ka kaua , (fix the war, or set 
their army in battle array,) for which they had a 
regular system, and adopted various methods for 
attack and defence, according to the nature of the 
ground, force of the enemy, &c. 
When about to engage in an open plain, their 
army, drawn up for battle, consisted of a centre 
and wings, the latter considerably in advance, 
and the line curved in form of a crescent. The 
slingers, and those who threw the javelin, were in 
general distributed through the whole line. Every 
chief led his own men to battle, and took his position 
according to the orders of the commanding chief¬ 
tain, whose station was always in the centre. The* 
king generally commanded in person, or that 
authority was exercised by the highest chief among 
the warriors; occasionally, however, a chief, in¬ 
ferior in rank, but distinguished by courage or 
military talents, has been raised to the supreme 
command. When they fought in a defile, or nar¬ 
row pass, in a single column, the first division, or 
advanced guard, was called the verau , or point, 
the name they also give to a bayonet. The other 
parts of the column were called by different 
names; the pohivi, or shoulder, was generally 
