230 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
lingly become prisoners or slaves, rather than go to 
war. The mischief was thus prevented—those 
with whom the reports had originated were sought 
out—an appeal was made to the laws, instead of 
the spear. The punishment annexed to the cir¬ 
culation of false and injurious reports was inflicted 
on the offenders, and the parties united in amity 
and friendship. 
As they feel the blessings of peace increase 
with its continuance, their desires to perpetuate it 
appear stronger. Its prevalence and extent are 
often surprising, even to themselves ; and some of 
the most striking illustrations of the advantages of 
true religion, and appeals for its support and 
extension, are drawn from this fact, and expressed 
in terms like these : Let our hands forget how to 
hi te omore , or vero ti patia, lift the club, or 
throw the spear : Let our guns decay with rust, we 
want them not; for though we have been pierced 
with balls or spears, if we pierce each other now, 
let it be with the word of God : How happy are 
we now ! we sleep not with our cartridges under 
our heads, our muskets by our side, and our hearts 
palpitating with alarm: We have the Bible, we 
know the Saviour; and if all knew him, if all 
obeyed him, there would be no more war. 
It is not in public only that they manifest these 
sentiments ; in ordinary life at home they act upon 
them. The most affectionate and friendly inter¬ 
course is cultivated between the parties who for¬ 
merly cherished the most implacable hatred, and 
often vowed each other’s extermination. Offices 
of kindness and affection are performed with 
promptitude and cheerfulness; and though by 
some their weapons are retained as relics of past 
days, or securities against invasion, by many they 
