CUUN] HAWAIIAN GAMES 209
around and across the ring, having the left arm bent, with the hand on the breast, and gave the challenge by striking the right hand violently against the left, and the left against the side, which produced a loud, hollow sound. Several were sometimes engaged at once, but more frequently only two. They grasped each other by the shoulders. Unbroken silence and deep attention were mani- fested during the struggle ; but as soon as one was thrown, the drums of the victor's friends struck up, the women rose and danced in triumph over the fallen wrestler and sang in defiance to the opposite party. The latter immediately commenced a most deafening noise, principally to mar and neutralize the triumph of the victors. When the wrestlers engaged again, the clamor ceased. The victor either withdrew, which was considered hon- orable, or remained and awaited a fresh challenge. When the contest was over, the men repaired again to the temple and pre- sented their offering of acknowledgment, usually young plantain trees, to the idols of the game.
Captain Cook * speaks of wrestling being performed in the Marquesas in the same manner as at Tahiti.
Taylor* says that in New Zealand te takaro ringaringa, or wrestling, was a very general amusement of young men, who prided themselves on their skill in throwing one another, as much, perhaps, as our own countrymen have ever done. Tre- gear* speaks of it as played with any hold.
J. Stanley Gardiner 4 says that in Rotuma "in wrestling any fall to the ground counted. The chosen champions watched each other carefully from a distance, and then, perhaps, one would rush on the other and make a feint, only to turn aside when they seemed bound to come to close quarters. The great idea was to get one's opponent, from the nature of his or your rush, into an awkward position, so that he could be seized around one thigh, and could not avoid a fall."
��1 Vol. in, p. 244. 8 Page 115.
- Page 173. 4 Journal Anthropological Institute \ vol. xxvil, p. 486.
AM. AMTN. K. S., I — 14
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