POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
345 
to their establishments, for the purpose of securing the 
means of subsistence without care or apprehension of 
want. 
The hue raatira were the middle class in society; 
forming the most important body in times of peace, and 
furnishing the strength of their armies in periods of war. 
Warriors were sometimes found among the attendants 
on the king or chief; but the principal dependence was 
upon the raatiras. These, influenced by the noble spirit 
of independence, accustomed to habits of personal labour, 
and capable of enduring the fatigues of war, were, pro¬ 
bably from interest in the soil, moved by sentiments of 
patriotism more powerfully than any other portion of 
the people. The raatiras were frequently the priests in 
their own family temples ; and the priests of the national 
maraes, excepting those allied by blood to the reigning 
families, were usually ranked with them. 
The hui arii, or highest class, included the king or 
reigning chieftain in each island, the members of his 
family, and all who were related to them. This class, 
though not numerous, was considered the most influen¬ 
tial in the state. Being the highest in dignity and rank, 
its elevation in the estimation of the people was guarded 
with extreme care; and the individuals of whom it was 
composed, were exceedingly pertinacious of their dis¬ 
tinction, and jealous of the least degradation by the ad¬ 
mission of inferiors to their dignity. 
Whenever a matrimonial connexion took place between 
any one of the hui arii with an individual of an inferior 
order, unless a variety of ceremonies was performed at 
the temple, by which the inferiority was supposed to be 
removed, and the parties made equal in dignity, all the 
offspring of such an union was invariably destroyed, 
2 Y 
li. 
