CONVERTS FROM THE AREOIS. 233 
in celibacy; consequently they had no descen¬ 
dants. On this account, although they did not 
enjoin celibacy upon their devotees, they prohi¬ 
bited their having any offspring. Hence, one of 
the standing regulations of this institution was, 
the murder of their children. The first company, 
the legend states, were nominated, according to 
the Oro’s direction, by Urutetefa and Orotetefa, 
and comprised the following individuals : Huatua, 
of Tahiti; Tauraatua, of Moorea, or Eimeo ; Te- 
maiatea, of Sir Charles Sanders’ Island; Tetoa and 
Atae, of Huahine; Taramanini and Airipa, of 
Raiatea ; Mutahaa, of Tahaa; Bunaruu, of Bora- 
bora; and Marore, of Maurua. These indivi¬ 
duals, selected from the different islands, consti¬ 
tuted the first Areoi society. To them, also, the 
gods whom Oro had placed over them delegated 
authority, to admit to their order all such as were 
desirous to unite with them, and consented to 
murder their infants.* These were always the 
names of the principal Areois in each of the 
islands; and were borne by them in the several 
islands at the time of their renouncing idolatry; 
when the Areois name, and Areois customs, were 
simultaneously discontinued. 
It is a most gratifying fact, that some of those 
who bore these names, and were ringleaders in all 
the vice and cruelty connected with the system, 
have since been distinguished for their active 
benevolence, and moral and exemplary lives. 
Auna, one of the first deacons in the church at 
Huahine, one of the first native teachers sent out 
* The above is one of the most regular accounts of the 
origin of the Areoi institution, extant among the people. 
Mr. Earff, to whom I am indebted for it, received it from 
Auna, and Mahine the king of Huahine. 
