d with his drollery, or
transported with his grimaces, being, in fact, the merry-andrew of the
corps, who, like a wise fool, well knew how to turn his folly to the
best account."[37]

[32] J. Cook, _Voyages_, i. 193-195; J. R. Forster,
_Observations made during a Voyage round the World_, pp.
411-414; G. Forster, _Voyage round the World_, ii. 128-135; J.
Wilson, _op. cit._ pp. 56, 57, 59, 65 _sq._, 153, 154, 174, 194
_sq._, 209, 331, 335; J. Turnbull, _Voyage round the World_
(London, 1813), p. 364; D. Tyerman and G. Bennet, _op. cit._ i.
326-328; W. Ellis, _op. cit._ i. 229-247; Waitz-Gerland,
_Anthropologie_, vi. 363-369.

[33] W. Ellis, _op. cit._ i. 236 _sq._

[34] J. Wilson, _op. cit._ p. 209.

[35] J. A. Moerenhout, _op. cit._ ii. 133 _sq._

[36] W. Ellis, _op. cit._ i. 235.

[37] D. Tyerman and G. Bennet, _op. cit._ i. 327 _sq._

The Society of the Areois was wealthy and highly esteemed; members were
drawn from all social ranks and greatly prided themselves on belonging
to it.[38] Indeed, they were regarded as a sort of superhuman beings,
closely allied to the gods, and were treated with a corresponding degree
of veneration by many of the vulgar and ignorant.[39] They were divided
into seven ranks or classes, the members of which were distinguished
from each other by their tattoo marks; the greater the amount of the
tattooing, the higher the rank of the person.[40] Admission to the
Society was attended by a variety of ceremonies; a protracted noviciate
followed, and it was only by progressive advancement that any were
promoted to the higher dignities. It was imagined that those who became
Areois were prompted or inspired by the gods to take this step. A
candidate for admission, therefore, repaired to one of the public
exhibitions in that apparent state of frenzy which is commonly supposed
to indicate divine inspiration. His face was dyed scarlet; his hair was
perfumed and adorned with flowers, and he wore a girdle of yellow
plantain leaves. Thus arrayed, he rushed through the crowd assembled
round the house in which the actors or dancers were performing, and,
leaping into the circle, joined with seeming frantic wildness in the
dance or pantomime. If the Society approved of him, they appointed him
to wait as a servant on the principal Areois, and after a period of
probation he might be inducted into the Society as a full-fledged
member. At his induction,