The Same
May Be Said Of The Chiefs Of Eimea, Tapamanoo, Huaheine, Ulietea, Otaha,
And Bolabola; For They Are All Related To The Royal Family Of Otaheite.
It
is a maxim with the Earees, and others of superior rank, never to
intermarry with the Toutous, or others of inferior rank.
Probably
this custom is one great inducement to the establishing of the societies
called Eareeoies. It is certain that these societies greatly prevent
the increase of the superior classes of people of which they are composed,
and do not at all interfere with the inferiors, or Toutous; for I
never heard of one of these being an Eareeoy. Nor did I ever hear
that a Toutou could rise in life above the rank in which he was born.
I have occasionally mentioned the extraordinary fondness the people of
Otaheite shewed for red feathers. These they call Oora, and they are
as valuable here as jewels are in Europe, especially those which they call
Ooravine, and grow on the head of the green paraquet: Indeed, all red
feathers are esteemed, but none equally with these; and they are such good
judges as to know very well how to distinguish one sort from another. Many
of our people attempted to deceive them by dying other feathers; but I
never heard that any one succeeded. These feathers they make up in little
bunches, consisting of eight or ten, and fix them to the end of a small
cord about three or four inches long, which is made of the strong outside
fibres of the cocoa-nut, twisted so hard that it is like a wire, and serves
as a handle to the bunch.
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