were given in the following way: a man from one side runs over to the opposite party and sits down before it; he then makes a sign to know if any one will engage with him: the person who chooses to accept the challenge comes forward brandishing his club, when the two combatants proceed to the middle of the circle, each attended by one from his own party to assist as second. They next determine whether they shall fight after the Tonga or Hamoa fashion ; the difference of which is, that the Hamoa custom allows a man to beat his antagonist after he is knocked down, as long as he perceives signs of motion: the Tonga mode, on the contrary, only allows him to flourish his club over his fallen foe, and the fight is at an end. This point being agreed on, the two champions for .the applause of the multitude begin to engage. When they have finished, another party comes on in the same way. Sometimes there are three or four sets of combatants engaged at the same time. When a man gains a victory, his own party gives a shout of approbation, wo wo, a ma to,i oi, i, oi[1]
- ↑ The words of this exclamation have, separately, no particular meaning : in respect to the pronunciation, the o in wo must be dwelt on at least five seconds ; the a is to be sounded as in ah! tar, &c.: the i as e in he, we, &c.: the whole is given in a sort of recitative, and very slowly.—
