in terror of the unknown murderer of mankind.

For some time

He

he could get no clue to the exact whereabouts of Tukaitaua. had indeed been seen occasionally performing his wonderful warlike evolutions hitherto unknown to mankind. Ascending a hill (which represents the left heel of the giant "Te-manava-roa ") he espied a small cloud of dust rising from a spot not far from "thechasm-of-Tiki,” by which constant communication was at that time kept up with nether-world. Tutavake cautiously approached the spot, and peered through the dense growth of trees and bush which surrounded the open space cleared by Tukaitaua for spearexercise. There, indeed, was his unconscious foe vigorously fighting the air. Day after day, from dawn to sunset, this was Tutavake's sole delightful employment. On this occasion Tukaitaua was somewhat exhausted, for the sun was vertical. Ever and anon an "ugh" would escape the accomplished warrior, as he failed in some delicate movement. Encouraged by these heavy grunts of disappointment, Tutavake, spear in hand, suddenly darted from his hiding-place to the edge of the circle inside which his cousin was practising. The astonished Tukaitaua exclaimed :—

Ana mai ta Tauatakiri,

Kua pakua ta Tavarenga.

The son of "Entirely-brave" did not

come

Until the son of "Deceiving" was exhausted.

Tu

Yet Tukaitaua did not for a moment cease his spear-practice. His antagonist followed him very adroitly, as he went round and round the great circular area, in order to avoid a hasty meeting. This was in accordance with the instructions of Rongo. kaitaua's obvious aim was to close in with his foe as quickly as possible, and to give the death blow. Seven times Tukaitaua wheeled round, but was skilfully avoided by Tutavake. The

eighth time he made the circuit, it was evident that his strength was much impaired. At this Tutavake suddenly swung round in the opposite direction and dealt the hitherto invincible Tukaitaua a fatal blow on his head.

Rangi was delighted that the death of Matoetoea and his friends was thus speedily avenged. Tutavake returned to the shades. But the former peaceful state of things could never be enjoyed again. Blood had been shed; first in sheer wantonness, next in just retribution. Ever since, mankind has been engaged in either aggressive or defensive warfare. Diseases of various kinds followed in the train, and lingering death; Veêtini being the first. Hurricanes and famines came, too, into existence.

Tukaitaua, when prowling round the island in search of Matoetoeā, etc., discovered in the exterior pile of rocks surrounding the fertile interior, a remarkable narrow gorge which runs right round,-not unlike a wide road, fenced on either side with imperishable walls of hardened sharp-pointed coral. Yet, strangely enough, in this coral large trees and beautiful creepers of different kinds grow luxuriantly. At various points in this natural road round Mangaia, Tukaitaua had cleared the bush and removed the rough loose stones in order to prosecute his favourite pastime at one time with a long spear; at another with a doubleedged wooden sword; anon with a curved club; occasionally with a sling.

:

The inhabitants of the world (Mangaia) contrived to get glimpses of the proceedings of this extraordinary fellow from behind trees or elevated blocks of rock; without, however, being seen by him. For it was evidently a dangerous thing to go near a native of nether-world possessed of such fearful strength. It was

in this furtive manner that mankind first learnt what sort of weapons to make and how to fight with them.

This knowledge was very seasonable. For not long afterwards there arrived at Tamarua, on the south of the island, a fleet of canoes of "Tongans-sailing-through-the-skies" (Tongaitiakareva-moana). The leader of this formidable band was the first high-priest of the god Turanga. The secret of his successful navigation was a vast ball of string which he held in his hand during his long voyage, and which was quite exhausted upon their safe arrival on the southern coast of Mangaia.1 Hence his name, Teaò-roa, or The-man-of-the-long-string. In those days the now unruly ocean was smooth as the little lake in Veitatei; its surface occasionally disturbed with gentle ripples, so that it was the easiest thing possible to voyage over it at any time and in any direction. But in after ages, ceaseless wars and shedding of blood disturbed the course of the elements, and so gave rise to the fearful storms and cyclones we now suffer from.

A battle ensued between these driftaways from Tonga and the original possessors of the soil, who claimed to have come up out of nether-world. This was the first of the forty-two pitched battles which have been fought on Mangaia. This primary conflict took place at Te-rua-noni-anga," or Valley-of-spoil. Of this battle it is expressly asserted that as men fell in the ranks of Rangi, their places were immediately filled up by new warriors from the shades! Sceptical moderns think their places were filled up from a reserve force hidden behind the rocks. However, the result was that the warlike invaders, who had despised the small army of

1 Until lately was shown the hole in the coral reef where "The-man-of-thelong-string" tied this end of the enormous ball of string! The bit of rock is now destroyed.

Rangi, and who were sure of securing the entire island to themselves, fled in utter disorder. The numerous names of different points of road across the island to the cave of Tautua, where the remnant took shelter, are but so many memorials of those slain in the pursuit.

Of Rangi's victorious force three fell-one out of each of the three original tribes. And thus was established the ancient doctrine (ara taonga), that victory and chieftainship of all degrees can only be secured by first shedding the blood of some of the victorious party, so as to secure the favour of Rongo, the arbiter of the destinies of war.

In the persons of Rangi and Tiaio, but in no other, the secular and spiritual sovereignties were united.

Peace was secured by the offering up on the altar of Rongo a human sacrifice, Vaioeve. Rangi now consented that the unfortunate Tongans should permanently occupy that part of the island where they had so recently landed. The art of war would not, however, have reached perfection but for these Tongan settlers, who had the credit, or discredit, of introducing the iron-wood tree, from the wood of which in after years all weapons of war were manufactured.

The settlement of a Tongan colony on the south, and their first conflict with the earlier inhabitants, are historical facts. Their bravery is universally admitted.

The restless character of these Tongans is indicated in the proverb, "A stone-mouth is needed to exhort the Tongans to keep the peace," i.e. lips that never tire.

When dealing a death-blow it was sometimes said, "Go, eat the stale food of Tukaitaua ;" the food in question being the club and the spear which Tukaitaua loved so well.

CHAPTER XIII.

HUMAN SACRIFICES.

WHY HUMAN SACRIFICES WERE OFFERED.

RANGI's first propitiatory offering to Rongo was a rat laid with great ceremony on the original marae of the god of war. But on descending to the shades to pay a visit to his divine grandfather, Rongo evinced his displeasure by averting his face from Rangi on account of his having been imposed upon with so unworthy a sacrifice. Rangi, who was naturally averse to blood-shedding, now learnt that nothing less than a human sacrifice would give satisfaction.

Upon his return to this upper world, Rangi successfully fought his first battle at a spot ever since called "Teruanoninga," or Valley-of-spoil. In this engagement the newly arrived colony from Tonga received a great check. A fugitive from the battlefield, Vaioeve, was overtaken and slain expressly for sacrifice to the god of War and of Night. Vaioeve was the first human sacrifice ever offered on Mangaia. The place where the victim fell still bears his name.

U