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 The society of Arreoys consists of hundreds or perhaps thousands of both sexes, who engage to destroy their own offspring at the moment of birth. It is chiefly composed of persons distinguished by valour and merit, and hence, one or more individuals of each family of the chiefs are of the number. It has been remarked, that all the men profess themselves warriors, and are in general stout and well made; that the greatest trust and confidence are reposed in them; and it rather appears, that the women consist of the higher ranks only. There are different gradations in this community, which are to be recognised from the mode of tattooing; the more profusely the men are tattooed, the higher is their rank in the society; the first are called Ava bly areema tutowe; 2. Areema bly; 3. Ahowhoa; 4. Harrotea; 5. Eote ole; 6. 7. Po; and youths training up are designed Mo; but the meaning of these names is not explained. By the fundamental laws of the society, the offspring must be destroyed; yet it is not known with certainty by whom or in what particular manner; the murder is always perpetrated in secret, probably by strangulation; all the attendants are excluded; for it is said, were they to witness it, they would be adjudged guilty of participation, and themselves be put to death. Sometimes the mother, animated by natural affection, tries to preserve her infant, and resists the persuasions of her husband, and his brother Arreoys, who wish to consign it to destruction. But in general the enormity of the crime does not appal the females, though they are described to be affectionate and tender. We find a dancing girl pregnant by an Arreoy, expressing herself thus to the English navigators: “Perhaps the Etooa or deity of England, might be offended with the practices of the Arreoys, but her own was not displeased with it. However, she promised, if we would come from England for her child, she might perhaps keep it alive, provided we gave her a hatchet, a shirt, and some red feathers.” That the rules of the community are very strict, may be inferred from an instance given by Captain Bligh. A chief, a member of the society, married a sister of the king of Otaheite, by whom he had eight children, and the whole were destroyed at their birth! Nor did this enormity seem to originate from any other source, as the parents afterwards adopted a nephew as their heir.

It may here be observed, that there are other practices among these people regarding infanticide, which, though we want materials for positively affirming the fact, may perhaps be connected with the institutions of the Arreoys. When an Otaheitan chief has a child by a woman of the lower orders, it is never suffered to live, and the like seems to take place reciprocally among the higher ranks of females. The King and Queen of Otaheite having ceased to cohabit, he had taken another wife, and she associated with one of her attendants of low rank. When pregnant, the missionaries endeavoured to persuade her to spare her child, which she said she would have done, had it been her husband’s, but now it would be base born, and must perish; and she resisted all entreaties to the contrary. Afterwards, having visited them, she excused herself for having put the infant to death; stating that it was the custom of the country to murder all base-born children, and hers being by a low man, she had only complied with the usual practice. Indeed, it is affirmed by the Missionaries who visited that Island in 1797, to be a common proceeding among all ranks, to strangle infants the moment they are born. “A perpetrator of this horrid act,” the narrator observes, “was among these whom curiosity attracted to visit us. She was.a good-looking woman, and esteemed by the natives a great beauty, which I suppose to be the inducement that tempted her to murder her child; for here the number of women bearing no proportion to the men, those esteemed handsome were courted with great gifts, and got so accustomed to change their husbands, to go with them from place to place, and run after the diversions of the Island, that rather than be debarred these pleasures, they stifle a parent’s feelings, and murder their tender children.” Thus many hundreds born into the world are never suffered to see the light; and so little criminality in the opinion of the natives is attached to the deed, that many women disclose the number they have put to death, without scruple. It has been calculated, that at least two-thirds of the births on the Island perish in this manner.

The Arreoys enjoy great privileges, and are everywhere united by the reciprocal ties of friendship and hospitality. When they visit different Islands, they receive presents, and are entertained with feasting and dramatic exhibitions; and all this they seem to expect rather as a matter of right than of courtesy. Their clothes are of the finest materials. They pass their time in luxurious idleness, perfuming their hair with fragrant oils, singing and playing on the flute, and passing from one amusement to another. “Wherever they go,” says Forster, “the train of sensual pleasure awaits them.” They feast on the choicest vegetables; and an abundance of dogs flesh and poultry are liberally provided by the lower classes for their entertainment. They are copiously supplied with kava, and for them are performed nocturnal sports of music and lascivious dances, to which no other spectators are admitted. Their presence seems to enliven the whole country; and among the various entertainments to which it gives birth, is one called hopowpah, of a dramatic nature, in which they themselves act a part. As soon as one Arreoy visits another, though a stranger, he immediately has his wants supplied and his wishes gratified; he is introduced to other members, who vie with each other in loading him with courtesies and presents. They are of all others the most luxurious and profuse, often consuming the whole provisions of a district. When Captain Cook lay at Huaheine, no less than 70 canoes were observed crossing over to another Island, with 700 Arreoys on board; and thus they keep great meetings at appointed times, and travel in companies from one Island to another. It has been affirmed, but perhaps without sufficient foundation, that a promiscuous inter-