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Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
again. Why, sir, that old fellow was chief 
priest here once, and the first man of the Areoi 
society—and he’s the only one left now.” 
Captain M-had heard of that mysterious 
body whose power in the early days of 
missionary effort was so great and so far-reaching 
in its terrifying and degrading influences as to 
at one time bring the spread of Christianity to 
a standstill. He therefore looked at the native 
before him with unusual interest ; and, as if 
aware of what was passing in the officer’s mind, 
the object of his scrutiny raised his head and 
laughed. “ Yes, sir, I am the last man of the 
Areoi on Huahine. There are one or two 
more of us on Taiarapu, in Tahiti.” 
“ Why have you not become a Christian in 
your old age, then, now that there are no more 
Areois left ? What good can it do you to 
remain a heathen ? ” 
Old Matapuupuu shrugged his wrinkled 
shoulders—“ What is the good of Christianity 
to me now ? I am too old to get anything by 
being a Christian. It is better for me to be an 
Areoi. I am very old and poor, although I 
made a lot of money when I was sailing in the 
whaleships. But, although I am so poor, I get 
