When Tavi learned that his warriors had brought Tuiterai alive, he reproached them for disobeying his orders. Even he found it hard to live up to his reputation. The pride of generosity had cost him his wife and a war; and still he must forfeit his character if he put Tuiterai to death with his own hand in his own house. The wars of Tahiti were as cruel and ferocious as the wars of any other early race, but such an act as this would have shocked Tahitian morality and decency. Tavi felt himself obliged to spare his rival's life, but between complete vengeance and complete mercy the law knew no interval. A chief spared was a guest and an equal. Tavi gave Tuiterai his life and his freedom and Taurua besides. The legend repeats his words in a song which is still sung, like the answer of Tuiterai to the demand for Taurua, as one of the best-known Teva ballads:

TAVI AND TEURAITERAI

A mau ra i te vahine ia Taurua.

Tou hoa ite ee. e matatarai maua e.

Taurua horo poipoi oe iau nei.

To aiai na pohe mai nei au ite ono.

Nau hoi oe i teie nei ra.

A mau ra ia Taurua tou hoa ite ee.

Matatarai mauai maua e.

"Take, then, your wife! Taurua! my friend! we are separated, she and I! Taurua, the morning star to me. For her beauty I would die. You were mine, but now -- take, then, Taurua! my friend! we are separated, she and I!"

Nevertheless, the overthrow of Papara was too serious a revolution not to affect the politics of the island. Tavi became by this triumph the most powerful chief in all Tahiti, and asserted his power by imposing a rahui for the benefit of his young son, Tavihauroa. A rahui was a great exercise of authority, and was more than royal in its claims. The rahui, which might last a year or more, was a sweeping order

Indigenous Histories