POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
323 
the sea. Manunu^ of majestic or kingly bearing fore¬ 
head. Teariitarai^* the splendour in the sky. I am 
such a one, (pronouncing his new Areoi name,) of the 
mountain huruhuru.^^ He was then commanded to seize 
the cloth worn by the chief woman present, and by this 
act he completed his initiation, and became a member, 
or one of the seventh class. 
The lowest members of the society were the 
principal actors in all their exhibitions, and on them 
chiefly devolved the labour and drudgery of dancing and 
performing, for the amusement of the spectators. The 
superior classes led a life of dissipation and luxurious 
indolence. On this account, those who were novices 
continued a long time in the lower class | and were only 
admitted to the higher order, at the discretion of the 
leaders or grand masters. 
The advancement of an Areoi from the lower classes, 
took place also at some public festival, when all the 
members of the fraternity in the island were expected 
to be present. Each individual appointed to receive 
this high honour, attended in the full costume of 
the order. The ceremonies were commenced by the 
principal Areoi, who arose, and uttered an invocation to 
Te buaa ra, (which, I presume, must mean the sacred 
pig,) to the sacred company of Tahutabuatea^ (the name 
of all the principal national temples,) belonging to Tara- 
manini, the chief Areoi of Raiatea. He then paused, and 
another exclaimed, Give us such an individual, or indi¬ 
viduals, mentioning the names of the party nominated 
for the intended elevation. 
When the gods had been thus required to sanction 
their advancment, they were taken to the temple. ‘ Here, 
* The hereditary name of the king or highest chief of Huahine. 
