4 238 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
ceremony, they plundered of whatever was fit for 
use. Such lawless acts of robbery were repeated 
every day, so long as the Areois continued in the 
district; and when they departed, the gardens 
often exhibited a scene of desolation and ruin, 
that, but for the influence of the chiefs, would have 
brought fearful vengeance upon those who had 
occasioned it. 
A number of distinct classes prevailed among 
the Areois, each of which was distinguished by the 
kind or situation of the tatauing on their bodies. 
The first or highest class was called Avae parai, 
painted leg; the leg being completely blackened 
from the foot to the knee. The second class was 
called Otiore , both arms being marked, from the 
fingers to the shoulders. The third class was 
denominated Harotea , both sides of the body, 
from the arm-pits downwards, being marked with 
tatau. The fourth class, called Hua, had only two 
or three small figures, impressed with the same 
material, on each shoulder. The fifth class, called 
Atoro, had one small stripe, tataued on the left 
side. Every individual in the sixth class, desig¬ 
nated Oliemara , had a small circle marked round 
each ankle. The seventh class, or Poo , which 
included all who were in their noviciate, was 
usually denominated the Poo faarearea , or plea¬ 
sure-making class, and by them the most laborious 
part of the pantomimes, dances, &c. was per¬ 
formed ; the principal or higher orders of Areois, 
though plastered over with charcoal, and stained 
with scarlet dye, were generally careful not to 
exhaust themselves by physical effort, for the 
amusement of others. 
In addition to the seven regular classes of 
Areois, there were a number of individuals, of both 
