1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 159 



ceremony ; but the women only uncover to the fe- 

 males of the royal family. In short, they seem even 

 superstitious in their respect to him, and esteem his 

 person little less than sacred. And it is, perhaps, to 

 these circumstances, that he owes the quiet possession 

 of his dominions. For even the people of Tiaraboo 

 allow him the same honours as his right ; though, at 

 the time, they look upon their own chief as more 

 powerful ; and say, that he would succeed to the go- 

 vernment of the whole island, should the present 

 reigning family become extinct. This is the more 

 likely, as Waheiadooa not only possesses Tiaraboo, but 

 many districts of Opooreanoo. His territories, there- 

 fore, are almost equal in extent to those of Otoo ; 

 and he has besides the advantage of a more popu- 

 lous and fertile part of the island. His subjects, also, 

 have given proofs of their superiority, by frequent 

 victories over those of Otaheite-nooe, whom they 

 affect to speak of as contemptible warriors, easily to 

 be worsted, if, at any time, their chief should wish to 

 put it to the test. 



The ranks of people, besides the Eree de hoi, and 

 his family, are the Erees, or powerful chiefs ; the 

 Manahoone, or vassals ; and the Teou, or Touton, 

 servants, or rather slaves. The men of each of these, 

 according to the regular institution, form their con- 

 nections with women of their respective ranks ; but 

 if with any inferior one, which frequently happens, 

 and a child be born, it is preserved, and has the rank 

 of the father, unless he happens to be an Eree, in 

 which case it is killed. If a woman of condition 

 should choose an inferior person to officiate as a 

 husband, the children he has by her are killed. And 

 if a Teou be caught in an intrigue with a woman of 

 the blood royal, he is put to death. The son of the 

 Eree de hoi succeeds his father in title and honours 

 as soon as he is born ; but if he should have no child- 

 ren, the- brother assumes the government at his death. 

 In other families, possessions always descend to the 



