270 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
It is only among the middle and lower ranks of 
society, that the contract is made by the parties 
themselves. I am not aware that the husband 
received any dowry with his wife, unless the rank 
of her family was inferior to that of his own. The 
suitor often made presents to the parents of the 
individual whom he wished to marry, in order to 
gain their consent. 
Among the higher ranks, the individuals them¬ 
selves were usually passive, and the arrangements 
were made by their respective friends. They were 
often betrothed to each other during childhood, 
and the female thus betrothed was called a 
vahine pahio. As she grew up, for the preserva¬ 
tion of her chastity, a small platform, of consider¬ 
able elevation, was erected for her abode, within 
the dwelling of her parents. Here she slept, and 
spent the whole of the time she passed within 
doors. Her parents, or some member of the 
family, attended her by night and by day, supplied 
her with every necessary, and accompanied her 
whenever she left the house. Some of their tra¬ 
ditions warrant the inference that this mode of 
life, in early years, was observed by other females 
besides those who were betrothed. 
When the time fixed for the marriage arrived, 
and the parties themselves agreed to the union, 
great preparations were made for the dances, 
amusements, and festive entertainment, usual on 
such occasions. A company of Areois generally 
attended, and, on the day preceding the nuptials, 
commenced their upaupa , or dance, and panto¬ 
mimic exhibitions. 
On the morning of the marriage-day, a tem¬ 
porary altar was erected in the house of the bride. 
The relics of her ancestors, perhaps their skulls or 
