The Areois. 
53 
life, met the same fate, as an unworthy member 
of the society. “ Singular as it may appear, 
the Areoi institution was held in the greatest 
repute by the chiefs and higher classes ; and, 
monsters of iniquity as they were, the grand¬ 
masters, or members of the first order (the 
‘ Avae parai ’) were regarded as a sort of super¬ 
natural beings, and treated with a corresponding 
degree of veneration by many of the vulgar and 
ignorant. The fraternity was not confined to 
any particular rank or grade in society, but was 
composed of individuals from every class of 
people. But although thus accessible to all, 
the admission was attended with a variety of 
ceremonies ; a protracted noviciate followed ; 
and it was only b^ progressive advancement 
that any were admitted to the superior dis¬ 
tinctions. 
“ It was imagined that those ”—to continue 
Ellis—“ who became Areois were generally 
prompted or inspired (by their tutelar gods) 
to adopt this course of life. When, therefore, 
any individual wished to be admitted to the 
ranks of the Areois, he repaired to some public 
exhibition in a state of apparent neneva or 
derangement. Round his or her waist was a 
