Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
5 ° 
lives, strolling from the habitation of one chief 
to that of another, or sailing among the different 
islands of the group. The farmers, i.e., those 
who owned plantations, did not, in general, 
much respect them ” (but they feared them), 
“ but the chiefs, and those addicted to pleasure, 
held them in high estimation, furnishing them 
with liberal entertainments, and sparing no 
property to gratify them. This often proved 
the cause of most unjust and cruel oppression 
to the poor cultivators. When a party of 
Areois appeared in a district, in order to pro¬ 
vide daily sumptuous entertainment for them, 
the local chief would send his servants to 
the best plantations in the neighbourhood, and 
these grounds, without any ceremony, they 
plundered of whatever was fit for use. Such 
lawless acts of robbery were repeated every day, 
so long as the Areois continued in the district ; 
and when they departed the gardens exhibited a 
scene of desolation and ruin that, but for the 
influence of the chiefs, would have brought 
fearful vengeance upon those who had occa¬ 
sioned it. 
A number of distinct classes prevailed among 
the Areois, each of which was distinguished by 
