Another curious custom of war was shown in this affair of Niuhi, who seems to have been the object of rather unusual hatred. Temana, having led the attack, was perhaps required by courtesy to share his victim with his allies. He invited them to exercise the right of offering the worst insult that could be inflicted on an Arii, of beating the back of the victim with their spears, as he lay bound. Namiro, who figured as the head of the cuttle-fish, was the first to strike. “I am a prisoner,” said Niuhi, who could not see, and did not know his captors; “I am dishonored by any one who strikes me on the back; but still I have the right to ask who strikes me.” “I am Namiro, the warrior of Ahurai,” was the answer; “I beat you with my lance Tuahinearama-rama.” Niuhi was silent. Teruru of Pereaitu stepped forward next and struck. Niuhi repeated his question, and was told: “I am Teruru of Pereaitu. I strike you with my lance Teaho.” Again Niuhi was silent. Tevavahiiteraa struck next. “Who is that?” asked Niuhi; “what wood is your lance made of?” “It is the apiri of Tamahue,’ replied Tevava, with another insult, for the apiri is only a weed. “No!” said Niuhi; “the apiri would sting, and would make a singing in the air as it struck, while this falls on my back with a dull thud.” “Know, then!” said Vavahiiteraa, “that it is the Teae of Mouoe!” The teae was a hard wood growing only on the hills of Mahaena. “I know now that I am lost,” said Niuhi, “for I am surrounded.”

Niuhi lost his chiefery, indeed, but he is supposed to have escaped to the mountains, for he was afterwards again heard of and killed at Papara. Among the fragments of history that survive in the island is a song called the “Boast of Niufi,” or Niuhi, which is, as usual, so crowded with local allusions as to be unintelligible, but which seems to show

Indigenous Histories