Tapamannoo, Huaheine, Ulietea, Otaha, and Bolabola ; for
they are all related to the royal family of Ot&heite. It is a
maxim with the Earns and others of fuperior rank, never to
intermarry with the Toutous or others of inferior rank. Probably
this cuftom is one great inducement to the eftablifh-
ing of the focieties called Eareeoies. It is certain that thefe
focieties greatly prevent the increafe of the fuperior claffes
of people, of which they are compo'fed, and do not at all
interfere with the inferiors or Toutous; for I never heard of
one of thefe being an Earreoy. Nor did I ever hear that a
Toutou could rife in life above the rank in which he was born.
I have occafionally mentioned the extraordinary fondnefs
the people of Otaheite Ihewedfor red feathers. Thefe they call
Oora, and they are as valuable here as jewels are in Europe,
efpecially thofe which they call Ooravine; and grow on the
head of the green paroquet; all red feathers are, indeed,
efteemed, but none equally with thefe; and they are fuch
good judges as to know very well how to diftinguifh one fort
from another. Many of our people attempted to deceive
them by dying other feathers; but I never heard that any
one fucceeded. Thefe feathers they make up in little
bunches, confining of eight or ten, and fix them to the end
of a fmall cord about three or four inches long, which is
made of the ftrong otitfide fibres of the cocoa-nut, twilled fo
hard that it is like a wire’, and ferves as a handle to the bunch.
Thus prepared they are ufed as fymbols of the Eatuas, or
divinities, in all their religious ceremonies. I have often
feen them hold one of thefe bunches, and fometimes only
two or three feathers, between the fore-finger and thumb,
and fay a prayer, not one word of which I could ever under-
fland. Whoever comes to this illand will do well to provide
vide himfelf with red feathers, the fined and fmalleft that
are to be got. He mull alfo have a good flock of axes, and
hatchets, fpike-nails, files, knives, looking-glalTes, beads, &c.
Sheets and Hurts are much fought .after, efpecially by the
ladies ; as many of our gentlemen found by experience.
The two goats, which Captain Furneaux gave to Otoo when
we were laft here, feeméd to promife fair for anfwering the
end for which they were put on fhore. The ewe foon after
had two female kids, which were now fo far grown as to be
nearly ready to propagate; and the old ewe was again with
kid. The people feemed to be very fond of them, and they
to like their fituation as well ; for they were in excellent condition.
From this circumftance we may hope that, in a few
years, they will have fome to fpare to their neighbours ; and,
by that means, they may in time fpread over all the illes in this
ocean. The Iheep which we left, died foon after, excepting
one, which we underflood was yet alive. We have alfo fur-
nilhed them with a flock of-cats ; no lefs than twenty having
been given away at this ifle, befides what were left at Ulietea
and Huaheine.