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United states national MUSEUivi.

Paymaster^ U, S, Navy,

From the Report of the National Museum, iSSS-'Sg, pages 447-559
(with plates XII- LX).

Report of National Museum, 1 889,— Thomson,

Plate XII.

By Paymaster William J. Thomson, U. S. Navy.

The honor of the discovery of Easter Island is contested by several
of the earlier voyagers in the Pacific. Spanish writers claim that the
island was sighted by Mendana in 1566, but the account is by no means
authenticated, and the records preserved are not sufficiently accurate to
determine the exact track sailed over by that ancient mariner. Captain
Davis is credited by Capt. William Dampier with being the first to sight
the island, and Lionel Wafer, who cruised with that bold navigator,
on board of the Batchelor^s Delight, gives the following account of the
discovery in the year 1687:

Bound to tlie southward, in latitude 12 degrees 30 minutes and about 150 leagues
off tbe coast, experienced a shock of earthquake, that was afterwards found to cor-
respond with the destruction of Callao by earthquake. Having recovered from our
fright we kept on to the southward. We steered eouth-aud-by-east-half-ea.storly,
until we came to latitude 27 degrees 20 minutes south, when about two hours before
day we fell in with a small low, sandy island and heard a great roaring noise, like that
of the sea beating upon the shore, right ahead of the ship. Whereupon the sailors,
fearing to fall foul upon the shore before day, desired the captain to put the ship
aliout, and to stand off until the day appeared ; to which the captain gave his consent.
So we plied off till day and then stood in again with the laud, which proved to be a
small flat island, without any guard of rocks. We stood in within a quarter of a
mile of the shore and could see it plainly, for it was a clear morning, not foggy or
hazy. To the westward about 12 leagues, by judgment, we saw a range of high land,
which we took to be islands, for there were several partitions in the prospect.

This land seemed to reach about 14 or 16 leagues in a range, and there came great
flocks of fowls. I and many more of our men would have made this land and have
gone ashore on it, liut the captain would not permit us. The small island bears from
Copiap6 almost due east 500 leagues, and from the Galapagos, under the line, tiOO

Unfortunately, none of the voyagers on board of the Batchelor^s De-
light were permitted to land upon this unknown island, nor is mention
made in the narratives of monoliths or unusual structures that might
have been observed from the short distance in which it is claimed they
approached the shore. The apparent inaccuracy in the description of
the appearance of the land may have been due to the peculiar bearing
of the vessel, but it gives foundation to the claim of Admiral Eogge-

veen, that Davis's island was not identical with the one discovered by
him on April 7, i 722, and named Easter Island in commemoration of the
day upon which the laud was sighted. Eoggeveen says:

When -vre approacbed nearer the land we saw distinctly from a short distance that
the description of the sandy and low island did not accord in the least with our dis-
covery. Furthermore, it could not be the same land which the aforesaid voyagers
claim to have seen stretching 14 to IG leagues in front of them, and near the highland
which Dampier judged to be the coast-line of the unlcoowu south. Tliat Easter Island
can not be the sandy island described by Davis is clear, because that was small and
low, while on the contrary Easter Island is high and towers above the sea, haviug
also two elevations rising above the level part. It would not be possible to mistake,
even at the dry season of the year, the grass and verdure that covers the hill-sides
for barren sand. After the Dutch custom of the day, the admiral assembled the com-
manders of the three vessels composing his fleet — the Aretid, the African Galley, and
the Thieiilioven — in council to pass formal resolutions claiming the discovery of the
land. The proceedings of the assembly state that on Easter day land was sighted
about 9 Diiles distant, of moderate height, and containing an area of about 6 Dutch
miles. The weather being calm the vessels were not able to secure an anchorage
near the laud until the next day. The island was found to be destitute of trees, but
with a fertile soil producing bananas, potatoes, and sugar-cane of extraordinary
thickness. It was unanimously agreed that both from the difference in the location
as well as the appearance of the land seen by Davis, the fact was established beyond
doubt that the island just discovered could not be the same. These proceedino-s be-
ing drawn up, were formally signed by Jacob Eoggeveen, Jan Koster, Cornelias Bon-
man, and Eoelof Rosendaal. After sailing from Easter Island the vessels spent a
number of days in a search for the low sandy island described by Davis, but not with

The unreliable Behreus mentions in the " Two Years' Voyage " the
discovery of Easter Island bj^ Eoggeveen on the day celebrated as the
resurrection of the Lord (April 6, 1722), in latitude 27 degrees south
and longitude 268 degrees west.

Oapt. F. W. Beechey, R. N., commanding H. M. S. Blossom (Novem-
ber, 182.5), referring to the discovery of Easter Island, finds the credit
due to Davis, giving the following reasons for the conclusions drawn:

Had such an island been in existence answering to the description of that seen by
Davis, geographers would not have been long in reconciling their opinions on the
subject of his discovery, as in all probability they would have waived their objec-
tions to its distance from Copiapo in consideration of its identity. The subject of the
supposed discovery has been often discussed; and when the data are so unsatisfactory
as to allow one party to choose the islands of Felix and Ambrose for the land in ques-
tion, and the other Easter Island, two places nearly 1,600 miles apart, they are not
likely to be speedily reconciled unless two islands exactly answering the description
given by Davis, and situated in the proper latitude, shall be found.

Without entering upon a ciuestion which presents so many difficulties, I shall
merely observe that, considering the rapid current that exists in the vicinity of the
[ialapagos, and extends, though with diminished force, throughout the trade-wind
the error in Davis's leckoning is not more than might have happened to any dull sail-
ing vessel circumstanced .as he was. In a short run from .Juan Fernandez to Easter
Island, Behreus, who was with Roggeveen, was drifted ;.U8 geographical miles to the
westward of his supposed situa,tion. H. M. S. Blossom in passing over the same ground
•vxperienced a set of 270 miles in the short s[iaco of 18 days. M. La Perouse on his ar-
rival at Sandwich Islands from Concepcion, touchiug at Easter Island on bis way,

found a similar error of 300 miles in the course of tbat passage. It is fair to presume
that Davis was louger in crossing from the Galapagos to Easter Island than either of
those vessels or, at least, than the Blossom ; and it is consequently but reasonable to
allow him a greater error, particularly as the first part of his route was through a
much stronger current. But taking the error in the Blossom's reckoning as a fair
amount, and applying it to the distance given by Wafer, there will remain only 204
miles unaccounted for between it and the real position of Easter Island, which, from
the foregoing considerations, added to the manner in which reckonings were formerly
kept, does not appear to me to exceed the limit that might reasonably be ascribed to
those causes.

M.La P^rouse was of the opinion that the islands of Felix and Ambrose were those
under discussion, and in order to reconcile their distance from CapiapO with that given
by Wafer, has imputed to him a mistake of a tigure in his text, without considering
that it would have been next to impossible for Davis to have pursued a direct course
from the Galapagos to those islands (especially at the season in which his voyage
was made), but on the contrary that he would be compelled to make a circuit which
would have brought him much nearer to Easter Island, and that Davis acquainted
Dampier with the situation of his discovery, which agreed with that contaioed in
Wafer's account.

The alteration of a figure, it must be admitted, is rather arbitrary, as it has noth-
ing to support it but the circumstauce of the number of islands being the same. A
mistake certainly might have occurred, but in the admission of it either party may
claim it as au advantage by interpreting the presumed error in a way which would
support his own opinion.

Cook and Pdrouse differ in a very trifling degree from each other, and also from us,
ill the geographical position of Euster I^land. The longitude is, by Cook, 109 degrees
"JCi minutes 20 seconds, and deducting 18 minutes 30 seconds, in consequence of cer-
tain corrections made at Fetegu Island, leaves 109 degrees, ii7 minutes, 50 seconds
west. That by P^ronse, allowing the longitude of Coucepcion to be 72 degrees 5fi
minut<3s 30 seconds west, is 109 degrees 32 minutes 10 seconds west, and our own is
109 degrees 24 minutes 54 seconds west.

Admitting that the land was first sighted by Davis, the fact is be.
youd question that the Dutchmen under Eoggeveen were the first
Europeans to land on the island. From the unfortunate termination of
his cruise, and the suppression of his ofiQcial journal for so many years,
but little has been handed down to us in the way of description of the
island as it then appeared.

The Spaniards sighted the island in 1770, and gave it the name of
St. Carlos. Captain Cook called it Easter Island in March, 1774, and
sent an expedition on shore, but his log affords little in regard to its
general appearance beyond the fact that it was parched and desolate,
and of no value as a place of refreshment.

M; Bernizet, geographical engineer, who visited the island in April,
1786, with the La P6rouse expedition, describes its appearance with
care, and after the lapse of a century his notes are found to be suflQ-
ciently accurate for ordinary purposes.

Amasa Delano, Kotzebue, Lisiausky, and many other voyagers made
brief calls at the island, and their journals afford little information.
The recent French, Spanish, and English charts are sufficiently accurate
in the main features, but some of the coast lines were evidently estab-
lished from running surveys, and are incorrect. During the stay of the
H. Mis, 334, pt. 2 1:9

Mohican Lieut. F. M. Symond.sJ' with Navul Cadet C. M. McCormick as
awsislunt, made a careful .survey of tUe i.slaud, and their chart, here-
with appeuded, will be fouud accurate and replete with iuterest. (I'late

Vessels anchoring on this unprotected coast must be; guided entirely
by the direction of the wind at the time. The Mohican anchored in tlie
roadstead of Hauga Eoa (Cook's Bay on the English charts) on tlie
morning of December 1!), 1SSC>, and afterwards moved to a jiositioii off
Anakena Bay (La Perouse Bay), for convenience in shipiiiug the stone
image, now in the National Maseum.

Uu the south coast there are good anchorages during northeiiy and
westerly winds, but there is usually a heavy swell from the southwest,
making the boat-landings at Vaihu both difftcnlt ami dangerous. AVith
easterly winds a good anchorage will be found just outside of Hanga
I'ico Bay, with sandy bottom, in about 2(5 fathoms of water, and the
boat-lauding will be fouud safe. The best boat-landing on the island
is at Auakeua Bay; the beach is comparatively free from stones, and
eveu with northerly winds the landing would be no more difficult than
is usual at Funchal.

The rise and fall of the tide at Easter Islaud is about 2 feet. The
northerly and westerly wiuds do not produce a high sea, but generally
bring rain, and are usually confined to the winter season. These winds
are knowu to the uatives as "papakino" (ill-force). The northeast wiud
is called "tongariki;" it is variable, aud frequeut in summer. The
southeast wind, known as "anoraro" (wide expanse), is the prevailing-
wind iu summer. The south wind, called "motu-rauri" (dark leaf rock),
blows iu winter. The southwest wind blows strong iu winter, and
brings rain and a high sea. Vaitara (cut-water) is a wintei' wind fiom
the west. The prevailing winds are from an easterly direction, and all
others are of short duration. Light airs that frequently shift tlirectiou
are usually accompanied by rain, and are called by the nati\es " tepu-
hauga" (biows drift on shore), the reason for which is obvious.

Tlie geological features of the island are replete with interest. The
fornnition is purely of a volcanic character and embraces every variety
pertaining to that structure. Basaltic, cellular, aud tufaceous lavas
abouud in diversified forms. The basaltic is generally [)orous and scori-
form, but on the slope of the hills the substrata are frequently as com-
pact and dense as that of the coast-line. Near Anakena may be seen
hills composed of scoria quite as cellular as pumice, and in close i)rox-
imity compact beds having a dark blue basis, composed of crystals of
glassy feldspar aud olivine.

Tlie cellukw fonnii'tioi! is iitixed puuiiee aiu-l slag, iu some cases isinib

lar to volcanic cinder, having the liglitness and qualities of coke, la
some of the varieties the cavities are filled with olivine crystals partly
decomposed, but generally the cavities are empty. This lava when
mixed with feldspar is sometimes of gray color; not iinfrequently sev-
eral tints of red may be seen, though the most common is a dark, luster-
less brown.

The tnfaceous lavas are extremely interesting, because they form the
most prominent feature in the iJhysiognomy of the island. To this
geological structure, with the incessant action of the trade-winds and
heavy rains, is due the fact that the island is surrounded by precipitous
clifls, rising in some cases to a thousand feet in height. The forma-
tion is extremely friable, and by the action of the elements, euorujous
masses are continually disappearing beneath the waves of the sea tiiat
beat upon this unprotected shore. These tufas differ considerably in
consistency at the eastern end of the islajid. The species is a tine light-
red dust that is blown about by the wind and is desti'ute of vegetation ;
towards the southwest end the basis is a compact mud-like red clay,
while the colossal crowns, intended to adorn the gigantic statues, are
carved out of a variety that has been scorified in one of the craters,
and is of a dull reddish color.

The ordinary rules for estimating the age of rocks by compactness
can be applied at Easter Island only hypothetically, because the scori-
form and more dense specimens are found immediately contiguous to
one another. In places they are quite conglomerated, as though older
formations had been disturbed by volcanic couvulsions, while a new
flow of lava enveloped and sealed the whole into a heterogeneous mass.
During our short stay on the islands there was no oi)portunity to
measure the lava flow or to make investigations of that nature.

Natural caves are numerous, both on the coast-line and in the interior
of the island. Some of them are of undoubted antiquity and bear evi-
dence of having been used by the early inhabitants as dwellings and
as burial places. It is reported that small images, inscribed tablets, and
other objects of interest have been hidden away in such caves and
finally lost through land-slides.

The numerous hills on this island have gently sloping sides, except
where they approach the coast, falling at this point precipitously to the
sea. The plains are irregularly shaxsed, and some of the smaller ones
rise to a considerable height. The physical character of the soil is
alluvial. The substratum is volcauic ash and stones, and the upiter
formation is composed of decayed vegetable matter mingled with a rich
deposit of decomposed lava washed down from hills by the frequeut
raius. These plains being formed by the periodical eruptions of the
volcanoes, some diflereuce may be uoted in the quantity of the soil,
varying according to location.

After the successive discharges of lava from the craters of Eana Ito-
raka and iiaua-kao bad prescdbed the limitfj of \X\^ island aud wheu

this flow had ceased, tliere was a heavy deposit of mud, covering deeply
both hill and dale. This condensed earth, after tlie lapse of centuries,
has formed a soil that produces a natural grass affording an excellent,
pas-turage for flocks and herds. The expiring energy of the volcanic
power appears to have been directed, long after the formation of this
soil, to sprinkling thickly the entire surface of the island with stones
and small bowlders, thus providing the means of attraction and hold-
ing the moisture, nature's substitute, as it were, for trees. The natives
have distinct names for the following varieties: Black and red tufa
with volcanic cinder and pumice are called " Maea-Hane-haue," " maea"
being the generic term ap|)lied to all stone. A soft gray tufa is ground
down with the juice of the sugar-cane and used as a paint. This is
known as " Kiri-kiri Ten." Hard slates, black, red, and gray, are used
for stone axes and called "Maea-Toke." Granite used for the same
purpose is known as "Maea Nevhive. The hardest and finest stone im-
plements are made of the flinty beach pebble known as "Maea-Reng-
rengo." The hard cellular stones from which the majority of the
jdatforms are built are called " Maea-Pupura." The material from which
images were constructed is called '' Maea-Matariki," and the obsidian
from which spear-heads were made is known as " Maea-Mataa."

Previous to the general recognition of the name bestowed by Admi-
ral Eoggeveen in commemoration of the day upon which tlie land was
discovered, it had not been regularly christened by either of the earlier
navigators who claimed to have sighted it. The Spaniards afterwards
gave it the name of San Carlos, but the Dutchman's title of Easter Is-
land was preferred by the chart-makers and was adopted by the world
in general.

The island is known to the natives as "Te Pito te Henua," the lit-
eral interpretation of the words signifying the " navel and uterus." This
singular name was given to the land, according to the ancient tradi-
tions, by Hotu Metua immediately after its discovery, and has been
handed down through succeeding generations unchanged. To the
simideminded Polynesian this name is suggestive, ajjpropriate, and
beautiful. The child of nature recognizing the volcanic origin of the
island can see in the great volcano, Eana Roraka, a resemblance to the
human "te pito" in relation to its shape and gently sloping sides sur-
rounding tbe shallow crater. The same association of ideas would
picture the majestic volcano, Rana Kao, at the southwest end, as " to
henua," in whose womb was conceived the embryo and whose vitals
brought forth the rocks and earth from which the island was formed.

"Kiti te eiranga" is stated by an English writer of some note to be
the native name for the island, bub we could' not find any authority for
it, nor did the natives with whom we came in coutact recognize the

Througbout southeasteru Polynesia this island is kuown as Rapa
Nui, but the name is of accidental origin and only traces back about
twenty years. When the islanders, kidnaped by the Peruvians, were
being returned to their homes, there was for a time a question as to the
identity of those from Easter Island. The native name of " Te Pito te
Henua" was not recognized by the French oflScials, and finding certain
fellow-snfFerers hailing from Oparo, an islaud lying 2,000 miles to the
westward, were more successful under the local appellatiou of Eapa iti
Little Itapa), the euphonious title was dropped and Rapa nui (Great)
Rapa) substituted. Teapy, Waihn, and various other names have been
given to the island, but clearly without warrant. Vaihu was the name
of a district and was occupied bj' the most powerful clan in the days
of Cook and La Perouse, but it was never applied to the entire island.

The climate is not unlike that of Madeira, with one wet and one dry
season. From April to October tiie niinfall is copious, and in summer
it is limited to passing showers. The mean temperature at the time of
our visit (midsummer), in the shade, at 2 o'clock p. m., was between 78°
and 80° Fah., and at 2 o'clock a. m. there was a fall of about 6 degrees.
The southeast trades blow fresh at the beginning and end of the sea-
son, and make the climate s.alubrious and liealLlifid. Our long fatiguing
marches, while making the exploration of the island, were not accom-
panied with inconvenience from exposure to tiie direct rays of the sun,
the constant breezes making the sensible temperature always appear
lower than that recorded by the thermometer. Violent exercise induced
profuse ])erspi ration, but evaporation was always free and rapid. Elec-
tric storms are unknown.

The Catholic missionaries built at Vaihu, on the south coast, near
Cape Koe Koe, a commodious and substantial church, a parsonage con-
taining three rooms, and several outbuildings. The house is now the
residence of Mr. Salmon, the outbuildings are occupied by his employes,
and the church has degenerated into a storehouse for wool. The i)rin-
cipal native settlement is at Mataveri, on the southwest coast, and about
a mile distant, at Hanga Koa, a small neat church has been erected.
Here the islanders assemble on Sundays and other occasions to hear
the service read by one of their number, who was ordained especially
to take charge of this congregation upon the departure of the French
missionaries. At the southwest end of the island, and near the base of
Rana Kas, is the residence of Mr. Brander.

The house is of modern structure, with large and convenient rooms,
but is in a state of bad rei)air, and is more attractive when viewed
from a distance, surrounded by the shrubbery and vines that have been
planted about it, than it is upon close inspection.

Tlie native priest and a few of Lis connections reside at Hanga Eoa,
only tbose ia the employ of Mr. Salmon live at Vaihu, and tlie only set-
tleojent on \he island that may be termed a village is the one at Mata-
veri. The primitive bnts formerly used by the natives (Fig. 1 ) have

Fig. 1.

Native houses uuit.t of r.ui,it[jsiiii:s.

been abandoned for more comfortable dwellings constrncted under the
direction of a Danish carpenter out of material obtained from the wreck-
ageof several vessels loaded witli Oregon lumber. These buildings are
of a style of architecture commonly met with in small cheap barns and
stables, but to the simple-minded islanders they supplj' all the comforts
that could be desired.

These houses are usually al)out 25 feet long and 15 feet wide with
undressed weather-boards and roofed willi the same material. Hinged
doors open in the center and a(bnit light and ventilation, though a few
of the more pretentions buildings are furnished with small glazed win-
dows. The lioors are of l>are earth strewn with a litter of dried grass,
filthy and vermin-infested from long use. Mats made of bulrushes aie
spread out for sleeping; several rough bedsteads and chests were seen,
but the majority of the houses are destitute of furniture or ornament.
Several families occnpy the same dwelling; men, women, and children
lie down together like dogs in a Ivennel, aiul with about the same ideas
of what constitutes the comforts of life.

The native traditions agree in the statement that the discoverers of the
island found it destitute of trees and all vegetation except grasses and
a creeping vine bearing a dehiscent fruit to which the name Moki oo-ne

was given. Hota-Matna and liis followers are believed toliave bionglit
with them potatoes, yams, bananas, sugar-cane, and the seed of various
jjlants, including the paper-mulberry and tororairo trees. The newly
discovered species of legume, together with fish and turtle, enabled the
first settlers to exist while the first crop was being planted and culti-

Nothing could be more contradictory than the description which tlio
different voyagers have given of Easter Island. Eoggeveen states that
it was destitute of trees, but the land was found to be exceptionally fer-
tile, producing bananas, potatoes, and sugarcane of extraordinary thick-
ness, and concludes by saying that the island, by virtue of its productive
soil and salubrious climate, could be made an earthly paradise by careful
cultivation. Behrens speaks of trees on the island, but to his romantic
eyes the clusters of banana and paper-mulberries were magnified into
forests. Captain Cook expresses great disappointment in the expecta-
tion that he had formed of this island. as a place of refreshment. The
only articles of importance obtained were potatoes and yams, and these
were only sufiQcient to servo for a few meals; while the fowls, bananas,
and sugar-cane were in such inconsiderable quantities that they were
deemed hardly worth mentioning. George Foster writes:

The island is so very barren that the whole number i.f plants growing upon it; dops
not exceed twenty species, of which the far greater part is cultivated, tlinngh flio
space which the platforms occupy is incons^iderablc compared with what lies waste.
The soil is altogetiier stony and parched by the sun, and the water is so scarce th;it
the inhabitants drink it out of wells which have a strong admixture of brine, and
some of onr people really saw them drink of the sea water when they wore thirsty.

Mr. Poster' devoted considerable attention to the investigation of
indigenous plants, and his report embraces all of the most important
varieties. He found the paper-mulberry carefully cultivated for tiie
purpose of making cloth. The stems were from 2 to 4 feet high, and
they were planted in rows among the rocks where the rains had
washed a little soil together. The Thespesia poimlnea Carr. {Hibiscus
jpopulnevs Linn.), was cultivated in the same manner, and likewise
a Mimosa, which is referred to as the only shrub that affords the
natives sticks for their clubs and pattoo-pattoos, and wood sufficient
to patch up a canoe. Wild celery and a few other small plants were
identified as the same species as that which he had found growing in
abundance on the shores of New Zealand. He also discovered a variety
of night-shade, which the Tahitians use asa vulnerary remedy (<9o/rtw?n)t
niprimi), and speculates as to whether it was used here for the same pur-

La Perouse, impressed with a desire to relieve to some extent the
destitute condition in which he found the islanders and of contributing
essentially and lastingly to their welfare, had ground prepared in which
he sowed various kinds of pulse. Peaches, plums, and cherries were
planted, also pips of oranges iiinl lemons. The natives were instructed

as fully as possible in the care and attention tbe new plants would re-
quire, and made to understand tbe value of tbis addition to tbeir re-
sources. Not a trace can be found of tbe tbings planted by tbis gener-
ous Frencbman, but w betber tbey were sufi'ered to die out tbrougb tbe
ignorance or indolence of tbe natives may never be known.

We found tbe lapse of a century bad made but little improvement in
tbe resources of tbe islanders. Trees bave been planted around tbe
bouse of Mr. Brander, at tbe soutbwest end of tbe island, but, with
tbe exception of tlie fig, acacia, and pa])er-mu]berry, tbey do not appear
to tbrive. At various i)laces througbout tbis laud we found small
clumps of Edicarclsia, Broussonetia, aiid Hibiscus, but all were dead,
having been stripi)ed of tbeir bark by tbe flocks of sheep, which roam
at will over the island. None of these trees were over 10 feet high,
and the largest trunk we found would measure about 5 inches in

Tbe natives are not altogether ignorant of husbandry, though they
practice it spasmodically and at a great expense of time and labor, dif-
fering in no respect from tbe customs of their forefathers hundreds of
years ago. In the cultivation of yams, potatoes, and taro, the young
jilants are protected from tbe tierce heat of the sun by a mulching of
dried grass gatliered from the uncultivated ground. Bananas are
grown in boles a foot or more deep and with sloping sides, designed to
catch and bold the rain-water as long as possible about the roots of tbe
plant. Sugarcane is grown in protected spots, and attains tbe height
of about 10 feet. During our peregrinations this succulent plant was
extensively used in lieu of something to drink, and proved exceedingly
^ aluable in preventing a i)arcbed condition of the throat. The natives
bave no knowledge of tbe art of extracting the juice of the cane for
the purpose of making sugar.

The sweet potatoes are large and remarkably good. The natives eat
them both raw and cooked. Experiments have been made recently
wim imported white potatoes, but they bave been tried in various situ-
ations and at different seasons without success. After the first growth
they appear like new potatoes, and when i)lanted again they are inva-
riably soft and sweet, and are much less palatable than tbe indigenous
variety. We saw tobacco plants growing in secluded spots, but were
unable to determine by whom or when tbey were introduced. Tbe
natives maintain that the seed was included among tiiat which was
brought to the island by the first settlers. Tomato x)lants were also
found growing wild, and on several occasions proved a valuable addi-
tion to our limited fare.

A wild gourd is common, and constituted tbe only water-jar and
domestic utensil known to the natives. Suitable clay abounds, but tbe
potter's art seems never to have been known on the island. There are
two varieties of indigenous hemp.

We saw no flowering i)lauts that are indigenous to tbe soil. Vervain,

Verbena officinalis^ and a few otliers grow in great profusion, but they
grew from cuttings obtained from ?■■ French vessel of war.

Ferns of many varieties are common, and grow in i^rofusion in the
craters of the volcanoes. Except in a few exposed places, the slopes
of the hills and the valleys are covered with a perennial grass. It
strongly resembles the Jamaica grass (PaspaZww) and grows in bunches
or tufts, which in the dry season become so slippery as to make the
walking both difficult and dangerous. This natural growth supplies
ample pasturage for the numerous cattle and sheep owned by Messrs.
Salmon and Brander.

To avoid the depredations of the sheep that wander over the island
without restraint, the natives are compelled to protect their cultivated
patches by stone walls. The volcanic stones furnish the only available
material for these barriers, and are thrown loosely together to a height
of 5 or 6 feet, and inclose gardens from a few feet square to several
acres. The deeply rooted prejudice existing in the native mind against
physical exertion that might be avoided, has develo[)ed a happy ex-
pedient to save labor and at the same time to escape the ravages of the
animals lately imported by the foreign residents. Ruins of houses,
cairns, platforms, and tombs are thickly scattered over the island ;
many of the standing walls are sufficiently well preserved and others
require but little repair. Within these ancient foundation walls are
raised their limited crops of fruit and vegetables; the only disadvan-
tage being the contracted area available for each plot.

There are no quadrupeds peculiar to the island except several vari-
eties of rodents. The ancient traditions claim that a goat like animal
was found here by the first colonists, with wide-spreading horns and
giving six young at a birtb. It is difficult to imagine the foundation
for this fancy. We found no representation of such an animal either
iu the mural paintings or outlined on the sculptured rocks, and diligent
search of the debris of the caves failed to disclose any of the bones or
traces of mammals.

La Perouse found the islanders without domestic animals, and left
with them two ewes, a she-goat, and a sow, with the male of each spe-
cies. Their native names indicate the recent addition to the language.

In the caves and among the ruins we saw 7nany rats of great size.
The examiuation of the tombs disclosed the fact that tlie bones had
been frequently gnawed by these rodents, and their nests were some-
times found inside the crania.

There are on the island a few cats as wild as though they had never
seen the face of man, though they are descended from feline pets landed
by some passing vessel. They have grown to an immense size, and
upon several occasions when encountered iu the dark recesses of a cave

or tomb presented a formidable appearance. Messrs. Salmon & Bran-
iler bave a berd of 000 cattle, and a flock of sbeep numbering 18,000.
The cattle are from Gliilian stock, are small, averaging only about 400
pounds, and possess no dairy qualities ; tbe cows giving barely enough
milk to rear tbeir calves. The sheep were also imported from Chili.
The wool is coarse and scant, the average being only about 2 pounds
per animal. The export of last year in wool was 16 tons, and was shiped
to Europe via Tahiti. An effort will be made next year to improve the
breed of sheep by introducing blooded rams from Australia. A few
tough little horses have been introduced from the island breed of Tahiti,
but it is doubtful whether this will ever become an important industry.

Small birds are altogether absent and, except the ordinary domestic
fowl, we found only the tropic or man-of-war bird, petrels, gulls, and a
variety of aquatic birds. George Foster observed noddies so tame as
to settle on the shoulders of the natives, but he did not conclude that
they kept a regular breed of them. The common domestic fowl was
found on the island by the early navigators, and it is claimed that they
were brought there by tbe first colonists. They are of the same kind
as the common chickens reared at home; their bodies are small, and
tlie legs long, but this is no doubt the result of long in-breeding. The
natives all have tame fowls about their dwellings, but there are others
in a wild state. We shot some of the wildfowls and found- them tough
and inferior in taste to those that were domesticated.

Fish has always been the principal means of support for the islanders,
and the natives are exceedingly expert in the various methods of capt-
uring them. The bonito, albicore, ray, dolphin, and porpoise are the
ofi' shore fish most highly esteemed, but the swordflsh and shark are
also eaten. Rock-fish are caught in abundance and are remarkably
sweet and good. Small fish of many varieties are caught along the
shore, and the flying-fish are common. Eels of immense size are caught
ill the cavities and crevices of the rock-bonnd coast. Fresh-water fish
are leported to exist in the lakes inside of the craters, but we did not
see any of them.

Turtles are plentiful and are highly esteemed ; at certain seasons a
watch for them is constantly maintained on the sand beach. The tur-
tle occupies a prominent place in the traditions, and it is frequently re-
presented in the hieroglyphics and also appears on the sculptured rocks.
A si)ccies of crayfish classified by Dr. Philippi, of Chili, as "papar-
chalu," is abundant. These are caught by the nati\es by diving into
the pools among the rocks, and form an important article of food.

Shell-fish are plentiful. Remains of several varities of univalves
were found in the stone houses at Orongo, and frequently met with in
the debris of the caves throiighont the island.

Small lizards are frequently seen among the rocks; the natives
claim that a large variety is not uncommon, but we saw nothing of it.
No snakes exist, bat there are centipedes whose bite is said to be ex-
tremely painful, though not attended with serious consequences. Sev-
eral varieties of butterflies were observed. Myriads of flies infest
every part of the island. Vliegen Island was the name given to Riroa,
in the Pamotu group, or Low Archipelago, by Schouten iu 1G16, but
we were tormented here by hundreds where we saw tens on the Attol.
From the earliest dawn of day to the close of the short twilight, hordes
of flies annoyed us ; it made no difi'erence whether we skirted the cliff's
to windward, climbed the breeze-swept hills, or burrowed in the musty
caves and tombs, swarms of flies met ns, prepared to dispute every foot
of the ground. Whatever may have been the parent stock of the Poly-
nesians, we came to the unanimous conclusion that we had discoverd
here the lineal descendauts of the flies that composed the Egyptian
plague, and can testify that they have not degenerated in the lapse of

Fleas occasioned us more annoyance than the flies, because this in-
dustrious little insect was untiring in its attentions by day and night.
They were found in numbers in all the camping places, and we seemed
to get a fresh supply every time a halt was called.

There are fifteen or twenty mangy dogs of a mongrel breed on the
island whose hides were literally alive with jumping insects. They
had long ago given up all hope of relief, and made no ineffectual efforts
in that direction, but they plainly expressed in their mute way the
conviction that life in this flea-bitten state was not worth the living.

It was said that there were no mosquitoes on the island until cisterns
were built by Messrs. Salmon and Brander to catch the rain-water.
We saw none elsewhere.

Cockroaches about 2 inches long, with antennae to correspond, infest
every dwelling on the island, from the humble thatched hut to the com-
paratively comfortable residences of the foreigners. They partook of
our food at meal-times with a freedom which showed that the presence of
the stranger caused no restraint ; while at night they made themselves
familiar with our garments in whatever time could be spared from
tlieir gastronomic researches.

A peculiar variety of snapping beetle made its appearance every
evening just before sundown, appearing suddenly ana vanishing with

Various forms of fishing nets were manufactured, from the hand net
to the long seine called " kupenga maito," which was sujjported by
l)oles at the extremities, weighted with stone sinkers on the submerged
edge and floated by billets of wood on the surface (Plate XIII). Their

light casting-nets were used with great dexterity as they waded along
the beach, and when a shoal of small fish appeared, the net was thrown
with the right hand. These nets were remarkably made, and in the
maaufacture a netting-needle of bone or wood was used, much after
the fashion in more civilized countries. The coarse nets and cordage
was made from the twisted bark of the hibiscus, and the fine ones from
the fiber of the indigenous hemp. From the strong heavy ropes used
in raising and transporting the colossal images to the light but durable
fish-lines, the threads were all twisted by hand, across the knee, into
even strands, which were multiplied according to the size and strength

The population of Easter Island is not stated in actual figures by
any of the traditions or legends, but all agree in the statement that the
different districts were peopled by numerous and powerful clans who
were constantly at war with each other. The immense amount of work
performed by the image-makers and platform-builders would indicate
the employment of a great many persons, if accomplished vvithin a
reasonable limit of time, or the extension over several centuries, if the
undertaking was carried out by successive generations. The ruins of
extensive settlements near Tahai Bay Kotatake plains, around Puka
Mauga-Mauga mountain, the Kana-Hana-Kana coast, the vicinity of
Anakena, the shores of La P6rouse Bay, and extending along the coast
from Tongariki to Vinapu in an almost unbroken line, would prove
either the presence of numerous inhabitants, or a frequent change of
location. The limited area of the 32 square miles of surface available
for cultivation precludes the idea of any very dense population, and
many reasons might be assigned for a frequent change of habitation.
We know that the stone houses at Orango were only occupied during the
feast of "bird eggs." The image-builders engaged in the quarries of
Rana Eoraka probably lived at Tongariki, and entire communities may
have changed location at different seasons of the year from failure (if
water supply, or some equally sufficient reason.

The early Spanish voyagers estimated the population at between
2,000 and 3,000. Admiral Eoggeveen states that he was surrounded
by several thousand natives before lie opened fire upon them. Captain
Cook, fifty-two years later, placed the number at between 600 and 700,
and Poster, who was with him, estimated them at 900. Twelve years
later (1786) La P^rouse placed the populatiou at 2,000. Bushey (1825)
puts the number at about 1,500. Kotzebue and Lisiansky make more
liberal estimates. Equally chimerical and irreconcilable deductions
are made by recent writers. Mr. A. A. Salmon, after many years' resi-
dence on the island, estimates the population beiween 1850 and 1860
at nearly 20,000. The diminution of the actual number of inhabitants
progressed rapidly from 1863, when the majority of the able bodied men
were kidnaped by the Peruvians, and carried away to wor^£ in the
guano deposits of the Chincha Islands, and plantations in Peru. Only

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate Xlll.

(Cat. No. 129748, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected by Paymaster W. J. Thomson, U. S. N.)

Report of National Museum, 1 839,— Thom.scn.

Plate XIV.

a few of these unfortunates were released, and all but two of them died
upon the return voyage, from small-pox. The disease was introduced
on the shore and nearlj^ decimated the island in a short time. An old
man called Pakomeo is at present the only survivor of those returned
from slavery, and he is eloquent in the description of the barbarous
treatment received from the hands of the Peruvians. In 186i a Jesuit
mission was established on the island, and through the teachings of
Frfere Eugene, the ancient customs and mode of life were replaced by
habits of more civilized practice.

H. M. S. Topaze visited the island in 18C8. At that time the popula-
tion was about 900, one-third of the number being females. In 1875
about 500 persons were removed to Tahiti under contract to work in the
sugar plantations of that island. Vn 1878 the mission station was
abandoned, and about 300 people followed the missionaries to the Gam-
bier Archipelago.

Mr. Salmon took a complete census of the people just before the ar-
rival of the Mohican^ and we were furnished with a list containing the
names of every man, woman, and child on the island. The total number
of natives is at present 155. Of these 68 are men, 43 women, 17 boys
under fifteen years of age, and 27 girls of corresponding age. The popu-
lation has been for several years at a standstill, the births and deaths
being about equal in numbers. The longevity of the islanders appears
to compare favorably with the natives of more favored lands. The
oldest man among them is a chief called Mati; his actual age is not
known, but he must be upwards of ninety, and his wife is nearly of the
same age.

The last king was kidnaped by the Peruvians and died in captivity,
but his nearest descendant is a sturdy old fellow (Fig. 2) called Kaitae,

Fig. 2.
Kaitab, nearest descendant of the last King of Easter Island.

about eighty years of age. The simple mode of life, frugal diet, freedom
from care and anxiety, witli regular habits, are favorable to the longevity
of the race.

Ill describing the iiei'soiial appearance of the islanders (Plate XIV)
the early writers give us a iileasiug variety to choose from. Behreiis
solemnly states that a boat came oii' to the ship steered by a single man,
a giant V2 feet high, etc. He afterwards observes, " with truth, I might
say that these savages are all of more than gigantic size. The men are
tall and broad in proportion, averaging 12 feet in height. Surprising as
it may appear, the tallest men on board of our ship could pass between
the legs of these children of Goliath without bending the head. The
women can not compare (Fig. 3) iii stature with the men, as they are

^ i .

. 1

Fig. 3.
Native women.

coMimonly not above 10 feet high." Koggeveen does not commit himself
to a measurement, but states "the people are well proportioned of
limb, having large and strong muscles, and are great in stature. They
have snow-white teeth, which are imcoiiimonly strong; indeed, even
among the aged and gray wo were surprised to see them crack large
hard nuts whose shells were thicker than those of our peach seeds." La
Perouse contradicts the account as to their enormous height and
praises the beauty of the women, who, he says, resemble Europeans in
color and features. M. Kollin states that the females were more liber-
ally cu(lowcd with grace and beauty thau any whicU were (ifcerwards

Report of Naliona) Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate XV.

met with. The uatives iire uot of large stature; a few of the lueu are
tall, but they arc of spare build, staud erect with straight carriage, aud
appear taller than they really are.

Great care Avas takeuto measure accurately the humau remains found
ill the oldest tombs excavated on the island. These proved the ancient
islanders to have been of medium size, aud the largest skeleton found
measured a little short of G feet. The men are strong, active, and capa-
ble of standing great fatigue — a fact denionstrated to our satisfaction
during the exploration of the island. The women are shorter aud of
smaller bouethan the men, as is usually the case throughout Polyuesia.

Mendaua states that the islanders are nearly white aud have red
hair. They resemble the Marquesans more than any other Polynesians,
and considerable variety prevails in their complexions. The children
are not much darker than Europeans, but the skin assumes a brown
hue as they grow up and are exposed to the sun and trade-winds. The
parts of the body that are covered retain the light color, and the females,
who are usually i)rotected from the sun, are much fairer than the men.
Bronze complexions are believed to indicate strength, and a dark skin
is considered a mark of beauty. The eyes are dark-brown, bright, and
full, with black brows and lashes not very heavy. The countenance is
usually open, modest, and pleasing. The facial angle is slightly reced-
ing, the nose aquiline and well proi)ortioned ; the prominent chin with
thiulips gives somewhat the appearance of resolution to the countenance.

The native character aud disposition has naturally improved as com-
pared with the accounts given by the early navigators. They were
then savages wearing no clothes, but with bodies painted inbrightcol-
ors. The women are said to have been the most bold and licentious in
Polynesia, if the reports are correctly stated, but we found them mod-
est and retiring and of higher moral.character than any of the islanders.
The repulsive habit of piercing the lobe of the ear aud distendiug the
hole until it could contain bone or wooden ornaments of great size is no
longer practiced, but there are still on the island persons with ear-bbes
so long that they hang pendent upon the shoulders. In disposition the
natives are cheerful and contented. Our guides were continually jok-
ing with each other, aud we saw no quarreling or fighting. They are
said to be brave and fearless of danger, but revengefuj^ and savage
-when arouted. They arefoudofdressand ornaments. Verylittletappa
cloth is now worn, the people being pretty well equipped with more
comfortable garments, obtained from the vessels that have called at the
island. (Plate XV). Straw hats are neatly braided by the women and
w^oru by both sexes. The women wear the hair in long plaits down the
back, the men cut the hair short and never discolor it with limeas is the
custom in many of the islands of Polynesia. The hair is coarse, black,
and straight, sometimes wavy, but never in the kinky stage. The beard
is thin and sparse. Gray hair is common affloug those beyopd Uiicl(Jle
life and baldaes.^ is very rare,

Kava is uot grown upon tho island anil the drink made from tbe
kava-root, common throughout the South Sea, is not known to these
people. The diminution of tho inhabitants can uot be ascribed to the
introduction of intoxicating drinks, or indeed any of the factors usually
advanced in such cases. The decadence was no doubt acceleratetl by
the introduction of the small-pox, and by the deportation of large num-
bers, but it is earnestly hoped that the small remnant of the people will
increase and multiply under the comforts and protection acquired from
contact with civilization.

The brutal treatment that the islanders received from the hands of
their early visitors was uot calculated to impress them favorably.
Usually the strangers were met upon their arrival by a crowd of noisy,
restless, impetuous people, as curious as children and as peaceable aud
friendly with all their boisterousness. The greatest fault they com-
mitted was theft, and in return numbers were shot down aud innocent
persons murdered. Eoggeveen plainly states that his boats approached
the island well armed and in great fear of the natives. The men were
formed in line of battleas they disembarked, and before all werelanded,
some one in therear iired a shot, and immediately a fusilade began by
these cowardly ruffians upon the unfortunate islanders, ten or twelve of
whom were killed outright and as many were wounded. The admiral
quietly shifts the responsibility for this outrage upon the shoulders of the
second mate of the Thienlwveii, who offers as an excuse that some of the
natives were observed to take up stones and make threatening gest-
ures. As soon as the astonishment and terror of the inhabitants had
subsided, they sued for mercy, aud everything they possessed in the
way of fruits and vegetables, poultry, etc., was procured and laid as a
peace offering at the feet of the Dutchman. Captain Cook afterwards
received the most friendly reception possible from the same people, but
he observed their great dread of fire-arms, the deadly effects of which
were thorougly understood. The landing party conducted a brisk trade,
and were highly amused to witness the small thefts committed upon
one another in order to obtain articles for barter, yet Lieutenant Edge-
comb did UQf hesitate to immediately shoot with his musket a poor
unfortunate who picked up a little bag of botanical specimens.

Captain Beechey was received with friendly demonstrations and his
boats, sent on shore for supplies, obtained bananas, yams, potatoes, su-
garcane, nets, etc., in trade, and some were thrown into the boats, leav-
ing the strangers to make what return they chose. His journal dwells
at great length upon the thieving propensity of the natives. His boats
were surrounded by native swimniers, who made off' with small articles
that came within reach of them, and among them were women who
were not the actual plunderers, but who jirocured the opportunity for
others by engrossing the attention of tbe seamen.

To reach the laudiiig-place (he boats had to pass a small isolated rock
upon which many persons had congregated, and who sang asoug of wel-
come, accompanied by gestures showing that the visit was acceptable. On
shore the party was surrounded by a crowd clamorous to obtain some-
thing from the strangers, the few presents oliered were accepted, and
then everything that came handy appropriated in the most open man-
ner. This led to a scuffle, in which sticks and stones were freely used,
resulting in a fight in which the native chief was shot and killed. The
punishment of the natives, according to European ideas, was both cruel,
and unnecessary. La Perouse judged the same crimes more leniently,
and did not feel Justified in committing murder to avenge petty thefts.
The outrages perpetrated upon the defenseless people by Captain Eugg,
of the Friend, aud other freebooters, including the Peruvian slavers,
require no comment.

The natives did nut attach any moral delinquency to the practice of
thieving. They had a god of thieving, and successful operations were
believed to be accomplished under his |)atronage, and only detected
when not sanctioned by that spiiit. The detected thief was made to
suffer for his crime by an eslablislied system of retaliation peculiar to
themselves, but the individual never lost caste or the respect of his
I'riends. Thieves caught in tne act might be bea! en, knocked about,
and the aggressor was permitted to ofier no resistance in the efforts to
escape, although he might be the largest and most powerful. Before
the retaliation could be enfoiced, the tbeft had to be proven and fixed
beyond question, then the plundered individual was at liberty to recover
the value of the loss from any property available belonging to the robber,
and in the event of the value uot^ being recovered, articles of value
could be destroyed to equalize the amount. Eetalialion for theft could
be enforced by the weak and feeble against the strong and powerful,
and any resistance would call to their aid the entire community.

The rite of circumcision, so common throughout Polynesia, is unknown
here, and their language contains no equivalent word for it. At the
presenttime, all the natives have professed Christianity, and the ancient
customs have been replaced by the ceremonies of the church to a great
extent, but since the departure of the missionaries there has been a
tendency to return to the old ideas, and many superstitions and practices
are mingled with their religion. The marriage ceremony is performed
by the acting priest in the church, but the practice is permitted with
children who have not reached the age of puberty, and the betrothal is
conducted by parents, the relations of the female paying a stipulated
amount, generally in food to be consumed by the friends at the feast
given to celebrate the event. It is not certain that polygamy ever
existed, but an ancient custom permitted the husband to sell or lease
his wife to another for a stated term. On account of the disproportion
in the number of the sexes, celibacy was a matter of necessity, and
H. Mis. 224, pt. 2 30

probably originated this custom. Love of family is a strong trait m
tbeir character; children are ibuilly cared for, and the desire for off-
spring is general.

Tattooing is not practiced at the present titae, none being observed
upon children and young i)ersons. But all those advanced iu life are
ornamented on all parts of the body. Unlike the Samoans and other
islanders, where a standard pattern is adhered to, the designs were only
limited by the fancy and ability of the artist. Both sexes were tattooed
(Figs. 4, « and h), but the women to a greater extent and with more
elaborate designs than the men. The material used in tattooing is ob-
tained by burning the leaf of au indigenous iilaut called "ti," which is
moistened with tlie juice of a berry called "poporo." A tattoo comb
is made of bone or fish bones fastened to a stick, which is held iu i^osi-
tion and struck with a sharp blow.

Fig. 4,(1.
Tattooing on native woman {fhokt view).

Fio. i,h.
Tattooing on native woman (hack view).

The highest ornanaentation was as follows: A narrow b;iud around
the up[)cr i)art of the forehead, at tlie edge of the roots of hair, with
little circles extending down upon the forehead and joined to the band

by a stem. From tlie corouet, a line extended around tbc outside edge
of the ear, with a. circle ou the lobe. The lips were freely tattooed,
after the manner of the Maoris, with lines curving around the chin and
extending towards the cheek-bones ; the entire neck and throat covered
with oblique or wavy lines, with occasional patches of solid coloring;
a broad, wide girdle (Fig. 4, a) about the waist, from which bands rise
in front and behind, representing trees and foliage, surmounted by largo
faces on the breast and back, and smaller ones on each side of the
body. Below the waist belt the lines were fine, like lace-work, and
from the thigh to the knee the appearance was that of silk tights with
variegated pattern. Below the knee there were various designs, termi-
nating in a point at the feet.

The form of salutation is "Kohomai," literally interpreted, "Oome to
me." This is always heartily expressed, and parties meeting often
shout out the kohomai while somedistauce apart. The greeting is varied
by the addition of a word of respect when addressed to a superior in
rank, or a stranger, and by a term of endearment, when to a child or
to a relation.

The costume of the natives is at present made up of the cast-oif
clothing obtained from ships of all nations that have called at the
island, but principally old uniforms of the French, Spanish, and En-
glish vesselsof war. Brass buttons api)eal strongly to the native love
for adornment, and many were made happy by the liberal contributions
from the Mohican. Very little tappa cloth is made on the island at
l)resent, but specimens of the ancient handiwork are treasured up in
every family. The mode of manufacture is quite similar to that prac-
ticed on the various groups of the South Sea, but the patterns are
much less elaborate. The bark is stripped from the branches of the
Hibiscus, in a manner to obtain the greatest possible leugtli, and rolled
into coils with the inner bark outside, in order to make it flat and
smooth. It is then scraped with a piece of obsidian to remove the
bark, the coils being occasioually soaked in water to remove the res-
inous substances. The strips are laid across a log and beaten for
many hours with a heavy mallet. The mallets are of the heav-
iest and hardest wood that can be obtained (toro*Hi?-o), about afoot long
and 3 inches ou each face, some of which are smooth and others
carved into grooves or ribs, to suit the different stages in the process of
manufacture. Several strips of bark are beaten into one thickness of
cloth, according to the purpose for which it was intended, some being
made quite fine and others coarse and heavy. iSTogum is used except
that naturally contained in the bark, and the fibers adhere closely
when kept dry. The fabrication of tbe tappa speaks weH for the native

invention and industry, but it is not very durable when cooapared with
woven goods. The colors with which tlie decorations are made are pro-
cured from roots, leaves, and berries of indigenous plants and are pre-
pared with considerable skill. Several kinds of earth are used for (he
dark colors, the pigment being ground down and boiled in the juice of
the sugar-cane.

The natives excel in the manufacture of fine mats, specimens of
which will be found in our collection. They are made of bulrushes
obtained from the craters in the vicinity of the lakes formed by tlie
collection of the rain-water. They are woven by hand, and fine speci-
mens are highly prized.

The amusements of the people were reduced to a minimum when the
customs of their heathen forefathers were abandoned, and at present
there is no general assemblage for the jjurpose of enjoj'ment except an
O(;casioual marriage feast or some accidental occasion, such as the ar-
rival of a foreign ship. Prominent among the ancient customs were
fiMsts to celebrate the return of the different seasons and various an-
niversaries in their history, such as the landing of Hotu-Metua at
Anakena Bay. Upon the latter occasion the ancient traditions were
,rei)eated by recognized orators, and a prominent feature of all fetes
was athletic sports, such as running, spear-throwing, and feats of skill
and dexterity. Dancing was the most common of all amusements and
there was no assemblage without its appropriate dance.

Just as the traditions are cherished and repeated from father to son,
the native dances are remembered and held in esteem, although never
publicly practiced. Mr. Salmon secured the services of the "star per-
formers" and we were fortunately enabled to witness the peculiarities
of the native dance at his house at Viahu, on the eve of our departure
from the island. The music was furnished by three persons seated
u[ion the floor, who accompanied their discordant voices by thumps
upon a tom-tom improvised from old cracker-boxes, and the dance was
performed by an old woman and a young girl, the latter possessing some
claim to symmetry of figure. The dancers wore a single loose garment,
short enough to expose the bare ankles and sun-browned feet. Over
the head and shoulders was thrown a white cloak, composed of a few
yards of cotton cloth, which was sometimes spread open and occasion-
ally made to hide the whole figure as they went through the various
evolutions of the dance. This mantle was not managed with any par-
ticular skill or grace and seemed to be identified with one [uirticular

daoce, after which it was discarded for the small danciug-paddle or
wand. The weird songs related the achievements and exploits of their
ancestors in war, fishing, and love, and the gestures of the dancers
were upon this occasion perfectly proper and modest. Some of the
movements were suggestive of a rude relationship to the dances per-
formed by the geisha girls of Japan in their odori, and consisted of
movements and attitudes calculated to display the elegance and grace
of the performers. The peculiar feature of the native dancing is the
absence of violent motion ; there is no jumping or elaborate pirouettes,
no extravagant contortions, and nothing that might be called a precision
of step. The lower limbs play a part of secondary importance to the
arms and the dancers indulge in no dizzy gyrations. The feet and
liiinds are kept moving in unison with the slow, monotonous music,
while the dancers endeavor to act out the words of the song by panto-
mime. These islanders, like their sisters throughout Polynesia, have
their hula-hula, or dances that partake of passion and abandon, and
l)ortray the old story of coquetry, jealousy, and ultimate surrender of
the maiden. Soft swaying movements, a gentle turning away, timid
gliinces, and startled gestures, gradually giving place to more rapturous
l>assioii, speak plainly enough the theme of the song, tiiough the move-
ments are less graceful and elegant than those which characterize the
naiitch dances of India. Among the diversified dances, some are per-
Ibrmed by men and others by women, but the sexes rarely if ever dance
together. Wands are usually held in each hand, but occasionally one
and sometimes both are discarded. Feather hats and other ornaments
are worn in portraj'ing characters and some of the dances are said to
be of obscene tendencies.

Like most savage nations, the Easter Islanders had numerous super-
stitions and resorted to charms, prayers, incantations, and amulets
to bring good luck and ward off evil. A thorough delineation of these
superstitions might be instructive in the light of showing the real depth
of the religious feeling of those who now profess Christianity as well as
the capacity of the native miud for entertaining a higher form of civili-
zation ; but, unfortunately, our brief stay on the island did not aftbrd
time to thoroughly investigate the subject.

Tbe belief in a future state was a prominent feature in the religion.
After death the soul was supposed to depart to the "place of departed
spirits" to be rewarded by the gods or tormented by the demons.
With this idea in view a small hole was invariably built in the wall
near the top of all tombs, cairns, and other receptacles for the dead, by
wuich the spiiit of the deceased was supposed to find egress. Deified
spirits were believed to be constantly wandering about the earth and
to have more or less influence over the human affairs. Spirits were
supposed to appear to sleeping persons and to communicate with them
through visions or dreams.

Guoines, gboiils, and goblins were believed to inhabit inaccessible
cavps and niches in tbe rock and to bavo the power of prowling about
after dark. The small wooden and stone images known as " household
gods," were made to represent certain spirits avid belong fo a different
order from tbo gods, though accredited with many of the same attri-
butes. They occupied a prominent place in CA'ery dwelling and were
regarded as the medium through which communications might be niaile
with the spirits, but were never worshiped. The Great Spirit Jleke-
Meke is represented by a bird like animal as referred to in the descri^)-
tion of sculptured rocks and paintings at Orongo.

The islanders were superstitious to an extent that was extraordinary,
and they were constantly under the influence of dread from demons or
supernatural beings. Fishhooks were made of bones of deceased fish-
ermen, which were thought to exert a mysterious influence over the den
izens of the deep. Fishermen were always i)rovided with the stone god
that was supi)osed to be emblematic of the spirit having cognizance of
the fish. I!o(ks in certain localities were believed to be under spirit
taboo, and jiersons who walked over them were punished with sore feet.
The leaves of several harndess plants were regarded as prophylactic
against disease. Stones were buried beneath the doorways of houses
to guard against evil influences. The native priests were simply
wizards and sorcerers who professed to have influence with evil spirits
sufficient to secure by incantations their co-operation in the destruc-
tion of an enemy, or by occult means gain their aid and good-will for
the protection of property, crops, etc. The system of taboo* corre-
sponds with the sanie tljing practiced throughout the islands of the
South Sea, and included a prohil)ition in regard to persons as well as
property. The symbol of the taboo on crops properly consisted of a
small pile of stone placed in the form of a pyramid, or piled one on top
of the otlier. The natives have a way of divining the future by means
of a floner, common enough iu more civilized countries but not observed
before in Polynesia. "Ae" and "Aita" are repeated as the petals are
thrown away, and the signification appears to be equivalent to the
"yes," and "no" of Goethe's Marguerite.

In the rear of some of the best-preserved platforms are stones said to
have been erected for sacrificial purposes. These altars consist of a
single shaft, generally of vesicular lava, but in some cases cut from the
material of which the images and crowns wei'e made. They range in
height from 5 to 10 feet, squared to 3.^ or 4 feet on each face, and stand
in the center of a terrace paved with smooth bowlders. The sides and
plinth were covered with figures sculptured ia low relief, but are now
too much weather-worn to be traced. These altars are said to have

been desigiied and used for liuinau sacrifices, but of tbis a reasonable
doubt may be expressed. Tbe form is inconveniently adapted to the
purpose and the stones differ in all respects from those used for the same
purpose iu tlie other islands. Evidences of fire on top of stones were
plain enough, but no charred bones were found except those of recent
date belonging- to sheep and cattle.

The practice of relieving pain by manipulation of the body was the
effective movement cure resorted to by the islanders years before llie
Swedish or massage treatment assumed its present prominence. With-
out entering upon the question of how valuable the practice of lomi-loiui
may be as a cure for ailments, I may testify to the physical regeneration
of this titillaiit manipulation. On more that one occasion I have thrown
myself upon tbe ground, completely exhausted by over exertion, and
yielded to tbe dexterous kneadings and frictions and palmings and
pinchings of those slnlled in tbe treatment. The hard-fisted native is
by no means gentle iu the operation, but with palms and knuckles
vigoi'ously tests every muscle and tendon, as well as every joint of tlie
vertebrae, until the exhausted patient sinks into a state of oblivions

Several of tbe plants indigenous to the island were considered valua-
ble remedies for certain ailments, but the chief therapeutic art of the
native i)ractitioner was tbe pretended exercise of powers of divination.
The application of herbs, simples, and tbe practice of lorai-lomi were
perlia[)s not sufficient distinction, and therefore a claim was made for
occult knowledge and supernatural power.

Tbe native pharmcopceia isextreuiely limited in its scope. The thistle
is bruised and applied to sores and ulcers, arrowroot for burns, and
a species of nightshade is used as a vulnerary remedy. On tbis breeze-
swept island diseases of a paludal nature are unknown.

A mild type of remittent fever is common during the rainy season
from April to October, but nature is left to fight its battles without
assistance. Rheumatism and pulmonary complaints occasionaly result
from long exposure to inclement weather, but as a rule no medical treat-
ment is attempted.

The natives believe that a disease called "kino," or cracked feet,
results from walking over the rocks along tbe shore at Tahai. Probably
tbe trouble arises from cuts and abrasions coming in contact with a
succulent vine that grows at tbis place.

The method of obtaining lire requires considerable preparation of ma-
te) inl and patience ou tbe part of tbe operator. A pointed stick of hard
wood is rubbed against a piece of dry paper mulberry until a groove is
formed, which finally becomes hot from the friction and ignites the lint

or fiber thrown up at tlie end of tbe groove. This is blown into a flainc,
and dried grass added to -it until the fire is sufficiently established.
The difficulty of preserving suitable material in a perfectly dry state
led to the custom of keeping up a perpetual fire in each comniunitj'.
These vestal fires were kept up by persons appointed for that purpose,
though it does not appear that they were vestal virgins. Caves afford-
ing ample protection from the weather were selected for the location of
these permanent fires, and although they had no religious'significance,
the tlaraes wore as carefully watched and attended as the celestial fire
of the followers of Zoroaster.

Tiie traditions abound with instances of authropophagism, and in all
Polynesia there were no more confirmed cannibals than these islanders.
The practice is said to have originated with a band of natives who were
defeated in war and besieged in their stronghold until reduced to the
borders of starvation. From this time the loathsome custom of devour-
ing prisoners, captured in war, grew in popular favor. Cannibalism may
have originated in a spirit of revenge, but it grew beyond those limits,
and not only were prisoners of war and enemies slain in battle eaten,
but every unfortunate against whom trivial charges -were made met that
fate. Instances are related in the legends of children being devoured
by their parents, not from any other motive than to satisfy the crav-
ings of their depraved and vitiated api)etites. Cannibalism was prac-
ticed until a comparatively recent period. Several of the older natives
acknowledge that they had frequently eaten human flesh in their youth,
and described the process of cooking and preparing "long-pig" for the

The ancient government of Easter Island was an arbitrary monarchy.
The supreme authority was vested in a king and was hereditary in
his family. The person of the king was held sacred. Clan fights and
internecine struggles were common, but the royal person and family
were unmolested. The king reigned o\'er the entire island and was not
disturbed by the defeat or the victory of any of the clans. The island
was divided into districts having distinct names and governed by chiefs,
all of whom acknowledged the supremacy of the king. The title of
chief was also hereditary, and descended from father to sou, but the
king reserved the right to remove or put to death any of them and of
naming a successor from the people of the clan.

There was no confederation, each clan being independent of all the
rest, except as the powerful arc naturally dominant over the weak. The
chiefs wore peculiar feather hats to denote their rank, and they pre-
sided at feasts and councils in the absence of the king. Other grades
of rank were recognized, such as that required by feats of valor, public

service rendered, suck as image making, etc., but this privileged class
had no authority vested in them over their fellows. Personal security
and the rights of private property were little regarded, and disputes
were settled by king or chief without regard to law or justice. There
was no code of laws, the people avenged their own injuries, and per-
sona who incurred the displeasure of the ruler were marked as victims
for sacrifice. It does not appear that any great homage was paid the
king, and no tax was exacted of the people. Long-continued custom
was accepted as law, and defined the few duties and privileges of the
private citizen.

Maurata, the last of a long line of kings, together with all of the prin-
cipal chiefs of the islands was kidnapped by the Peruvians and died
in slavery. Since that time there has been no recognized authority
among the natives; every man is his own master, and looks out for his
own interests.

In 1863-64 the natives were converted to Christianity by Frfere Eu-
gene, a Jesuit missionary. A Frenchman called DutrouBornier had
settled upon the island and started an extensive farm, and a conflict of
authority sprang up between the two foreigners, which led to bitter
feuds between the natives. Dutrou-Bornier lived with a common wo-
man, who had been the wife of a chief, and he succeeded in having her
proclaimed queen of the island, under the name of Korato. A system
of espionage and iutrigue was instituted by Queen Korato, guided by
the Frenchman's instructions, which resulted in an open rebellion
against the ecclesiastical authority. The missionary was finally com-
pelled to leave the island, and he reqjoved to Gaml)ier Archipelago
with about three hundred of his followers, giving Dutrou-Bornier and
Queen Korato a clear field. The Frenchman was killed in August, 1876,
by being thrown from his horse while drunk, and Queen Korato and her
two children survived him only a few years. Mr. Salmon found upon
his arrival that none of the natives had assumed authority over his
fellows, and in due course that gentleman became to all intents and
purposes the king of the island, ruling the people with kindness and
wisdom and thus securing their unbounded respect and esteem.

Hundreds of tombs, cairns, platforms, and catacombs were examined
during our stay on the island, and in all cases the bodies were lying
at full length. In a vault beneath platform No. 11 are a number of
skulls packed together in sufficient quantity to completely fill the com-
partment—trophies of war perhaps, in view of the fact that the skulls
were those of adults; but in no single instance did we discover the re-
mains doubled up as the Incas and other American aborigines were in
the habit of burying their dead. In the early ages it was the custom
to wrap the corpse in dried grass, bound together by a mat made of
sedge, and whether laid in platform, cairn, or cave, the body was

usually laid with the head towards the sea. Sueceediuir p;eueratiotii^
substituted tajipa or native cloth for the sedge mat, and the present
people arc suiBciently civilized to prefer rude coffins when the material
can be obtained. Cemeteries were located by the missionaries near the
churches at Vaihu and Mateveri, and strong cfibrts made to discourage
the burial of converted natives with their heathen ancestors, but they
were never able to overcome their aversion to promiscuous iiiteriiient.

Hotu-Matua is said to have landed upon the island with three hun-
dred followers m two canoes, which are described in the traditions as
90 feet in length and G feet deep (draught of water). From the descrip-
tion given of these boats and the representations found of them among
the mnral paintings and sculptures in certain caves, the canoes of the
original settlers were quite similar to the Fiji war-canoes. They were
constructed of many pieces of wood neatly fitted together and held in
place by thongs or lashings; high and sharp at both ends and bal-
anced by an outrigger or smaller canoe. Such boats are in use at the
present time iu many of the Polynesian islands and are quite ca])able
of making long' voyages at sea. The boats built by succeeding gener-
ations were few in number and small in size, on account of the scarcity
of material to be found on the island. Many of the early navigators
refer to the scarcity of boats belonging to the natives. Captain Cook
saw several canoes, 10 or 12 feet long, built of pieces 4 or 5 inches
wide, and not more than 2 or 3 feet long, but the majority of his
native visitors swam off to his ship. Captain Beechey saw three canoes
on the beach, but they were not launched. Yon Kotzebue saw three
canoes each containing two men. At the time of our visit tlie only
boats on the island were two large ones, belonging to Messrs. Salmon
and Brander, built of material obtained from the wrecks on the coast.
There are no canoes in use at the i)resent time, but we found two \ery
old ones iu a cave on the west coast, having long ago passed their days
of usefulness on the water and now serving as burial-cases. They
were a patchwork of several kinds of wood sewed together, and though
in an advanced stage of dry-rot the material was sufficiently well pre-
served to ju'ove that it never grew on Easter Island, but had been ob-
tained from the drift-wood on the beach.

The native weai)ons in offensive and defensive operations were lim-
ited to obsidian-i)oink'd spears, short clubs, and the throwingstones,
l>ut these were handled willi remarkable skill and dexterity. The his-
tory of the simple weapons in the hands of people who became ])re-
eminent in their use has been repeated in all ages and countries, and
is fully exemplified iu these islanders; though their primitive spear,

lacking- the raetal-piercing medium, could never aspire to the fame of
tlie gladiator's trideut, the Homeric javelin, the Roman pilum, the Turk-
ish jereed, the Landsknecht's halberd, the Polish lance, the Zulu assa-
gai, or even the knobkerry of the AmaznUi. The formidable weapon of
the ancient Parthian, still wielded by the dexterous Turcoman, was not
known to these islanders. Arrows miglit have been improvised, but
there was no wood in their possession suitable for the manufacture of

Unlike the Fijians and other Polynesians to the westward, who did
great execution with their long war clubs, these natives nsed in fight-
ing- only the patoopatoo, or the mer6, like that of the Maori, except that
tiiey were invariably made of wood. They possessed a long club, a lit-
t le expanded and flattened at one end, and the other carved into a head
with a double lace with eyes made of obsidian and bone; but this was
carried as a baton of office before the chiefs and used only for that pur

Stones were thrown with great precision and accuracy from the hand,
and the use of a sling, such as made David more than a match for the
gigantic Philistine, appears to have been unknown. Slings were com-
mon among the Inoaa and other races of Soutli America from the earli-
est times, but no traces of such an api)liauce could be found on Easter
Island, either in the tombs or mentioned by the ancient traditions.

A want of practice has probably made the natives of to-day less pro-
ficient ill stone-throwing than their forefathers, but if the stories may
be believed, the time was when their truculent address could only have
been surpassed by Runjeet Singh's Akalis in flinging the chuckkra.

Several of the ancient traditions speak of a net being used in flglit-
ing, and men were especially trained in its use, but whether they re-
sembled the old Roman retiariiis can not be discovered, the custom
having long since died out. It is unknown to the natives of to-day.

Two kinds of spears were used, on^ about 6 feet long for throwing and
the other a shorter one; a heavier stabbing pike was only fit for use at
close quarters. In its original form the spear was essentially a missile,
and the traditions speak of the adoption of the thrusting weapon in the
desperate engagements that resulted in the extermination of the "long-
eared race." The shafts were made ofpourou Hibiscus sp. and tu Dracwna
terminaiis, and the various forms of obsidian points were secured by a
lashing made from the indigenous hemp. The javelins were thrown
underhanded with the little finger foremost, but they did not have
that peculiar vibratory motion that distinguished the Zulu assagai.

Nothing was known of a retrieving weapon, such as the boomerang of
the Australians, or even the throwing-sticks of the Eskimo tribes on
the coast of Alaska.

Tiiere was no class of professional fighters or soldiers ; every able-
bodied man was supposed to be a warrior and compelled to do duty in
time of war. Fighting men were not trained or drilled, except that

throwing stones and darting the spear were favorite amusements and
always a prominent feature of all feasts. The clans were always led to
battle by the chief, but there was no ])articular formation. Every man
acted in accordance with his individual fancy, or as occasion demanded,
relying upou skill and strength alone. No shields were used and no
l)articular eftbrts were made to parry the weapons of the enemy.

In view of the fact that the islanders all acknowledged the authority
of one king, their wars were surprisiugly numerous, barbarous, and nn-
releutiug. The traditions are filled with accounts of sanguinary con-
tliots originating from trivial causes and continued through genera-
lions, until one party or the other were entirely exterminated. The
slaugUter ou the field of battle was never very great, but in the event
of a general defeat, the vanquished party was pursued by the victors
to the hiding places, their habitations destroyed, females captured,
children and infirm persons brutally murdered. The defenseless un-
fortunates who fell victims to their merciless captors, accepted their
fate, whether it was slavery, torture, or butchery, with remarkable for-
titude, seldom if ever making any show of resistance.

The i¥o/wca?i came to anchor in the roadstead of HangaRoa (Plate XVI)
on the morning of Saturday, December 18, 1886. The individuals most
interested in the exploration of the island went on shore without delaj',
and the work was pushed forward as rigorously as possible until the
hour appointed for the sailing of the ship for Valparaiso ou the even-
ing of the last day of the year.

Messrs. Salmon and Brander boarded the ship upon her arrival and ex-
tended the hospitalities of Easter Island, placing their limited resources
entirely at our command with a heartiness that won our immediate es-
teem, and whicli ripened into sincere friendship before our departure.
These gentlemen are closely connected with the royal family of Tahiti,
and we had been intrusted with letters and various articles from rela-
tives and friends who desired to embrace the opportunity for commu-
nication offered by the Mohican.

Upon landing at Hauga lloa we found nearly all of the natives on
the island congregated to receive their unknown visitors. The men in-
spected us closely and were profuse iu friendly demonstrations, while
their wives and daughters gazed curiously from a little distance, and
the children's manner plainly showed the enjoyment of an occasion of
infrequent occurrence in their quiet lives. Surrounded by this crowd
we walked about a mile to the house of Mr. Brander, where the bag-
gage, tools, and impedimenta in general were deposited. During the
afternoon a reconnaissance was made to the crater of Kana Kao and the
ancient stone-houses in the vicinity, and in the evening we crossed the
island iu a light wagon with Mr. Salmon to his residence at Vaihu.
That gentleman has, during his long residence ou the island, accumu-

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate XVI.

Report of National Museum, 1889. — ThomBOn.

Plate XVII.

Report of National Museum, 1 889. — Thomson.

Plate XVIII.

lated a valuable collection of curios aud relics of the former inLab-
itauts. Nearly all of our first uight ou shore was devoted to the pur-
chase aud cataloguing of specimens from Mr. Salmon's collection, all of
which will bo referred to and described elsewhere. Duplicates were
obtained of all articles furnished Lieut. (Jommander Geisler, of the
Hyane, for the museum at Berlin, aud of those collected by the Topaze
for the British Museum, together with original tablets aud other lelics
of great interest and value that had escaped the attention of former

Sunday, December 19. — Made an early start from Vaihu and rode to
the central elevations called Mount Teraai, Mount Punapau, and Mount
Tuatapu and inspected the quarries from whence the red tufa was ob-
tained which formed the crowns or head-dresses that ornamented all
the huge images. Following the road to the southwest we made the
ascent of Rana Kao. The crater is nearly circular and about a mile in
diameter (Plate XVII), with steep jagged sides, or walls, except on the
south, where the lava-flow escaped to the sea. A lake fills the bottom of
what was once the volcanic caldron ; the water is of great depth and the
surface covered with a coat of peat, so dense and strong that cattle range
over it, finding food at irregular intervals. The surface of the lake is
about 700 feet from the top, but the cattle have made a path by which
the descent can be made with safety.

Skirting the edge of the crater to the southward the ridge becomes
narrower, falling precipitously a thousand feet to the sea on one side,
and descending abruptly into the crater on the other until it terminates
in an elongated wall of rock rising to a sharp, jagged edge impassable to
either man or beast. Just where this elevated edge contracts rapidly
towards the south are located the ancient stone-houses of Orongo.
(Plate XVIII). These burrow-likedwelHngswerebuilt with little regard
to streets, avenues, etc., but were regulated by the contour of the land.
Piles of debris in one or two spots marked the destroying hand of former
investigators, but the large majority of the houses were intact, and in
some instances the openings had been sealed up with stone, making it
difficult to outline the original entrances. These dwellings were con-
structed without windows or other openings except a door- way so low
and narrow that an entrance could only be effected by crawling upon the
hands and knees, while in many cases it was necessary to creep serpent-
like through the contracted confines. Many interiora were inspected
by the light of candles provided for the purpose and houses inarked for
thorough investigation ou the morrow.

While tracing and sketching the sculptured rocks in the vicinity of
Orongo, the declining sun hastened the departure for Vaihu, where the
hours after our evening meal were devoted to making notes of the native
traditions as translated by Mr. Salmon, until that good-natured gentle-

man could be kept awake no longer. It had been proposed that vre
should occupy one of the ancient stone houses for the night, in order to
be near the scene of operations planned for the next day, but they were
damp and ill-smelling and the work accomplished on the traditions
more than repaid the time lost in recrossing the island.

December 20. — Leaving Vaihu at early daylight we arrived at Hanga
Eoain time to meet the detachment of eight selected men sent on shore
from the ship with proper tools and implements for making a thorough
exploration of Orongo and vicinity. (Plate XIX). The blue-jackets
scampered up the slope of Eaua Kao with the buoyant spirits of school-
boys out for a holiday, and arriving at the spot were anxious to lend
the assistance of willing hands and plenty of brawn to the-prosecution
of the work.

Every house was entered and inspected, though occasionally a mis-
calculation was made in the dimensions of a narrow passage-way and it
became necessary to rescue a prisoner by dragging him back by the
heels. Once inside the building, the interior could be easily inspected
and sketches made of frescoes and sculptured iigures. (Plate XX).

These remarkable habitations were built against a terrace of earth or
rock, which iu some cases formed the back wall of the dwelling (Fig. 5).
From this starting point a wall was constructed of small slabs of strat-
ified basaltic rock, piled together without cement and of a thickness
varying from about 3 feet to a massive rampart of 7 feet in width.

Fig. 5.
View of stone hut in Orongo.

The outer entrance is formed by short stone posts planted iu the
ground and crossed by a basaltic slab. The passage-way was in all
cases unpaved and usually lined on the top and both sides with flat
stones. This im[)ortaut feature added materially to our comfort while
forcing an entrance through some of the narrow openings, and saved the
necessity for adding to our already bountiful supply of bruises and abra-
sions. No regularity of plan is shown iu the construction of the ma-
jority of the houses; some are parallelogram in shape, others elliptical,
and many are immethodical, showing a total absence of design, the
builder being guided by the conformation of the ground, the amount
of material available, and other chance circumstances, These housea

Report of National Museum. 1 889. —Thomson.

Plate XIX.

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate XX.

are roofed with slabs ot rock of sufficieut length to span the side walls,
showing that no particular care had heen exercised to form close joints.
Over this stone ceiling the earth was piled in mound-shape, reaching
a depth in the center of from 4 to C feet, and covered by a sod that
afforded ample protection from rain. The floors were the bare earth,
and the interiors were damp and moldy from insufticient ventilatioa
afforded by the single contracted opening.

An accurate measurement of these remarkable structures gave the
average height from floor to ceiling 4 feet 6 inches; thickness of
walls, 4 feet to 10 inches ; width of rooms, 4 feet 6 inches ; length of
rooms, 12 feet 9 inches; average size of door- ways, height 20 inches,
■width 19 inches. In making the survey of Orongo the houses were

numbered from 1 to 49, inclusive, commencing at the inshore extremity
(Fig. 6). Wliile in the majority of instances the interior dimensions
were considerably below the average given above, several of the houses
exceeded those limits, particularly in the length of the rooms, The

largest house contained a single chamber nearly 40 feet lone:; three
were over 30 feet, and eight measured over 20 feet in length, with other
dimeusious approxiiSately the same as the general average. These rude
dwellings were not in all cases confined to a single apartment; some
have one and a few have two or three recess chambers opening out of
the main room; buttheywere dark little dens, having no separate light
or ventilation.

Near the center of this assemblage of houses there is a sort of square
court with eight door-ways opening upon it. These might be considered
separate and distinct dwellings, though the apartments are connected
by interior passage-ways, making it possible to pass from one to the
other. At the extreme end of the point a similar collection of houses
opens upon a circular court, and the interiors are also connected.

In front of each house and about 10 feet from the door-way, small ex-
cavations lined with slabs of stone, making holes about a foot wide and
2 feet long and about 20 inches deep, indicated the culinary arrange-
ments of the former inhabitants. The modus operandi of preparing the
food was primitive in the extreme; a fire was built in the rude oven
and removed when the stones were sufficiently heated, a covering of
damp earth being placed over the oven to retard the radiation of heat.

Thorough examination demonstrated the fact that these peculiar
houses were not precisely alike in all respects, though thesame general
characteristics i)revailed. Those at the extreme point of the ridge
(Plate XXI) bear evidence of great antiquity, and much excavation was
necessary before a satisfactory examination could be made of the door-
posts or stone supports to the entrances, which were covered with hiero-
glyphics and rudely carved figures. From houses numbered 2, 3, and
■1 (b'ig 6) on Lieutenant Symond's chart of Orongo, were taken samples of
these sculptures for the National Museum. The large beach pebbles
were obtained by digging to a depth of 2 feet below the door-posts, and
are of considerable interest both from the dense nature of the mateiial
and the fact that these carvings were found frequently repeated through-
out the islaud.

The majority of the houses at Orongo are in a fair state of preserva-
tion and bear evidence of having been occupied at no very remote pe-
riod. The result of the investigation here showed very little of carving
ou stone, but the smooth slabs lining the walls and ceilings were orna-
mented with mythological figures and rude designs painted in white,
red, and black pigments. Houses marked 1, 5, and 6 on Lieutenant
Symond's chart were demolished at the expense of great labor and the
frescoed slabs obtained. Digging beneath the door-posts and under the
floors produced nothing beyond a few stone implements.

The houses in this vicinity occupy such a prominent position that
they were naturally robbed of everything iTi the way of relics by the
natives, who were beginning to appreciate the value of such things
through the importance placed upon them by the foreign vessels that

Report of Nations.! Museu

1889. — Thomson

Plate XXI.

Report of Nalionai Museum, 1889- T,,orr,co

Plate XXII.

have called at the islaud. A iiiclje in the ^Yall of each of these dwell-
ings was evidently designed to receive the household god and the va-
rious valuables which were possessed by the inhabitants. Whatever
treasures they may have held in former years, we found them empty,
and our search revealed nothing of importance.

Attention was directed to one of the buildings in this assemblage that
apparently had no entrance way. One wall was demohshed, disclosing
a rude coffin containing the remains of a native recently deceased.
The unoccupied house had been utilized as a tomb, and sealed up with
the material of which the walls were built.

The most important-sculptured rocks on this islaud (Plate XXII) are
in the immediate vicinity of the stone houses at Oiongo (Fig. 7). As

Fig. 7.

much time as possible was devoted to examining and sketching these
curious relics. The hard volcanic rock is covered by carvings intended
to represent human faces, birds, fishes, and mythical animals, all very
much defaced by the ravages of time and the elements (Plate XXIII).
The apparent age of some of the rock-carving.§ antedates the neighbor-
ing stone houses, the images, and other relics of the island except the
ruined village on the bluff west of Kotatake Mountain. Fishes and
turtles appear frequently among these sculptures, but the most common
figure is a mythical animal, half human in form, with bowed back and
long claw-like legs and arms. According to the natives, this symbol was
H. Mis. 224, pt. 2 31

iuteuded to represent the god " Meke-Meke," tlie great spirit of the sea
(Fig. S). The general outline of tliis figure rudely carved npon the

Fir. 8.
Sculptured figures often kei'iioduced on rocks at Oi:ongo; 'Meke-Meke."

rocks, Lore a striking resemblance to the decoration on a piece of pot-
terj' which I once dug up in Peru, while making excavations among the
graves of the Incas. The form is nearly identical, but, except in this
instance, no similaritj' was discovered between the relics of Easter Is-
land and the coast of South America.

From the most reliable information that could be obtained, the stone
houses at Orougo were built for the accommodation of the natives while
celebrating the festival of the "sea birds eggs," from a remote period
until the advent of the most important ceremonies.

During the winter months, sea-birds in great numbers visit the Is-
land to lay their eggs and to bring forth their young. The nests are
made among the ledges and cliffs '>f the inaccessible rocks, but a favor-
ite spot fop these birds has always been the tiny islands Mutu EauKau
and Mutu Nui, lying a few hundred yards from the southwest point of
the island (Plate XXIV). Here the first eggs of the season are laid, and
therefore Orongo was selected as a convenient point to watch for the
coming of the birds. According to the ancient custom, the fortunate
individual who obtained 2'»ossession of the first Qgg and returned with
it unbroken to the expectant crowd, l)ecame entitled to certain privi-
leges and rights during the following year. No especial authority^ was

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson.

Plate XXIII.

Report of National Museu

Plate XXIV.

vested iu him, bat it was supposed that be had wou the approval of
the great spirit " Meke Meke " and was entitled to receive contributions
of food and other considerations from his fellows. The race for the dis-
tinguished honor of bearing off the first egg was an occasion of intense
excitement. The contestants were held in check at Orongo until the
auspicious moment arrived, and the scramble commenced at the word
" go," pronounced by the kiug,who was about the only able-bodied man
on the island who did not participate. It was deciiiedly a go as you-
please race, every man selecting his route to the sea by the circuitous
paths or directly over the face of the cliff, and many fatal falls are re-
corded as the result.

The swim to Mutu Eau Kau was a trifling matter, the chief difficulty
being to return with an egg unbroken through the general scramble.

The houses at Orongo were probably unoccupied except for a short
period in July of each year while awaiting the coming of the sea-birds.
The peculiarity of their construction might be accounted for by the fact
that the thatched hut, common to the plains, could not be used to ad-
vantage on this exposed bluff". The low, contracted entrances, were used
here as well as elsewhere for defense. Factional fights were common
and it was necessary that every house should be guarded against sur-
prise and easily delended. Another reason might be found for making
the openings as small as possible, iu the absence of doors to shut out
the storms. The sculptured rocks in the vicinity of Orongo bear record
of the grateful contestants in the egg-races to the great spirit "Meke
Meke" for his benign iniluence and protection, much after the manner
in which boats, pictures, and other objects are dedicated to certain pa-
tron saints in more civilized portions of the earth.

The investigations iu the vicinity of Orongo having been finished, a
contract was made with Mr. Brander for removing from the excavations
and transporting to the landing-place the frescoed slabs, inscribed door-
posts, and objects collected, and the evening was devoted to the native
traditions until exhausted nature demanded a few hours rest. With a
view of propitiating the natives and securing their goodwill and co-
operation in prosecuting the work with the utmost dispatch, a number
of men were employed to assist in the excavations made at Orongo, but
the experiment proved a failure. They constituted themselves an ap-
preciative audience, and could not be induced to work. They evinced
a lively interest in all that was going on, and performed astounding gas-
tronomic feats at meal-time. We concluded to dispense with their serv-
ices after a demonstration of their dexterity in causing the disappear-
ance of every small object that remained unprotected for a moment.
Several of the head-men, afterwards employed as guides to accompany
the expedition around the island, and stimulated with the hope of bounti-

ful rewards, performed valuable service in the way of locating water-
holes, ideutifying localities, naming objects of interest, etc.

December 21. — Preparations were made for an early start on the ex-
pedition already planned. The native contingent was disi)atched abont
daylight with carap equipage and instructious to form Camp Mohican at
a spot where it was reported good water could be found iu abundance.
We were somewhat handicapped for the march by the fatigue of the
last i&^' days, added to the want of rest. The hospitality of the Brauder
establishmeut had been cordially extended, but such a large and varied
assortmeutof insects and noxious animals had possession of the premises,
that we i)referred the open air,though there were several passingshowers
during the night. A working party from the ship, consisting of nine
men, including a boatswain's mate and quartermaster, landed at an early
hour, each man equipped with knapsack, canteen, shovel and pick.
The expedition took the road passing through the villages of Mataveri
and Hanga Koa to the coast, followed by almost every man, woman, and
child on the island. The interest displayed by the natives in our move-
ments gradually died out after a few hours of hard walking, and towards
noon the last party returned to their homes, leaving us a clear ticld.

Following the coast-line to the northwest, every part of the ground
was carefully examined, platforms measured and plotted, excavations
made, and objects of interest collected and catalogued.

Near Anahoirangaroa Point, on some ledges of hard volcanic rock we
found numerous depressions that evidently were made at the cost of
great labor. Some are elliptical in shape, others perfectly circular,
averaging about 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep. The majority are
above high-water line aud others just awash when the tide is full. Xo
explanation could be obtained in regard to these holes, aud it was con.
eluded that they were originally intended as live-boxes for the preser-
vation of fish.

The natives have a superstition to the effect that any one who walks
over these rocks will be attticted with sore feet, and we received many
solemn warnings in regaid to it. If there is any foundation for it at
all, it is probably due to a succulent vine that grows here, coming in
contact with the wounds caused by the sharp rocks. A short dis-
tance farther on stands a round tower 12 feet in diameter and 20 feet
high (Fig. 9), said to have been erected as a lookout station from whence
the movements of turtles could be watched. We fouud here, as well
as under every other pile of stones of any description on the island,
tombs and receptacles for the dead, all tilled with human remains in
various stages of decay, from freshly interred bodies to the bones that
crumbled into dust upon exposure to the air. The entire island seems to
be one vastuecropolis, and the platforms along the sea-coast appear to
have been the favorite burial places iu all ages. Natural caves were
utilized as places of deposit for the dead.

Considerable time was devoted to the examiuatiou of the platforms,

and in uume'oiis iustinices interesting catacombs and tonib.s were dis-
covered, containing remains of great antiquity. lu tbis connection a
lieculiar trait in tlie native character was developed. Towards even-
ing one of the niitive guides returned to pilot tiie working party to the
lilace selected for the camp, just at the time a particularly oldtomb had
been uncovered and the crania were being removed from their former
resting place. This the unsophisticated native took in at a glance,
and with the announcement that we were desecrating the burial place
of liis forefathers, be set up a howl of despair, and became prostrated
with grief at the sight of a skull which he claimed to recognize as that
of his great-grandfather. ISTotwithstanding the absurdity of the state-
ment, the anguish displayed induced us to return the bones to their
ancient resting place. The afflicted youth quickly dried his eyes, and
intimated that for a suitable reward he would be willing to dispose of
the remains of his ancestors, and he thought that a consideration of
about $3 would assuage his grief. That settled it. The skulls were
gathered into the collection, and the sorrowing native left to mourn the
loss both of the money and of the bones of his forefathers.

Fig. 9.
Obseuvation Towr.i! on Bi.uff KKAit AKHOiEANi;AnoA Point.

Many of the stone bases upon which the images stood still remain
in their original positions upon the platforms. Generally they are ir-
regular in shape, a few have been squared, and on platform No. 5 we

found one of octagon shape that stood the test of uieasureuieut very
well. Between platforms 4 and 5 the land falls away gently to the sea,
and this slope is paved regularly with small round bowlders, having
every appearance of having been constructed as a way for hauling out
boats. The coast in this vicinity is perfectly rock-bound, but a narrow
channel extends from the paved way out to sea. Boats might land
here at any time. With the wind southeast, or iu any direction ex-
cept west, the landing would be perfectly smooth. The place is admir-
ably adapted to the landing of heavy weights, but, as far as known, the
images were never transported by sea, nor did the islanders possess
boats sufBciently large to float them, or material from which they could
be constructed.

On the face of tbe cliff near the point, Ahuakapu, a large and inter-
esting cave, was visited. Many of the recesses and angles had been
walled up and contained human remains. Fossiliferous specimens of
marine animals were obtained by digging up the floor of the cave. The
igneous rocks in the vicinity show evidences of rude sculptures, among
which could be traced canoes, fishes, and men in various attitudes. Upon
the extreme point we found another one of those round towers, built
for the purpose of observing the movements of turtles on the beach.
The shaft measures 24^ feet, and stands in the center of a narrow plat-
form 67 feet long, filled with tombs containing human remains that had
long been undisturbed, as evidenced by a luxuriant growth of lichens
on the rough rocks.

On the high bluff west of Kotatake Mountain we discovered the ruins
of a settlement extending more than a mile along the coastline and in-
land to the base of the hill. These remains bear uumistakable evidences
of being the oldest habitations on the island. The houses are elliptical in
shape, with door-ways facing the sea, and were built of uncut stone.
Some of the walls are standing, but the majority are scattered about
in tbe utmost confusion. An extremely interesting feature 'of these an-
cient ruins is the fact that each dwelling was provided with a small cave
or niche at the rear eud,built of loose lava stones, which was in a number
of instances covered by an arch supported by a fairly shaped keystone.
The recesses were undoubtedly designed to contain the household gods,
and the key-stone, although extremely rough in construction, is unmis-
takable in its application. Our guides had no knowledge of this locality
and knew no distinctive name for it.

Messrs. Salmon and Brander had not visited the spot, because the
location is bleak and desolate and, as far as they had heard, was a track-
less waste, devoid of all interest.

Camp Mohican was formed a few huiielred yards in the rear of plat-
form No. 7. We reached the spot just as the shades of night were clos-
ing in, foot-sore and weary from the hard day's march. The camp was
not more than 5 miles in a direct line from our starting point in the
morning, but we had traveled many times the distance in making a
thorough Inspection of the ground. A narrow pathway follows the
coast-line for a part of the distance, which affords safe footing for
the natives ; everywhere else the ground is covered with volcanic rocks
of every conceivable size and shape, making the walking both difacult
and dangerous. The site for the camp was selected because of the prox-
imity of a water-hole, the only oneJ;o be found in this neighborhood.
It proved to be a shallow cave where the rain-water collected from the
drainage of the surrounding hills ; the fluid was full of both animal and
vegetable matter and decidedly unpleasant to taste and smell. A shel-
ter-tent was improvised by suspending a blanket at the ends from board-
ing pikes planted in the ground, and after a hasty meal all hands sought
the much needed rest. About midnight ominous looking clouds rolled
up from the southeast, and it rained in heavy squalls until morning. Wet
and unrefreshed, we turned out at daylight to resume the march with
everything completely saturated from underclothing to note-books, but
with undaunted resolution to continue the work in spite of the ele-

Platforms? and 8 are within a few hundred yards of each other and
close to the edge of the bluff, which is at this point 390 feet above the
sea level. From beneath these ancient piles many interesting speci-
mens of crania were obtained, together with obsidian spear-heads and
stone implements. An extensive settlement must have been located
here at a comparatively recent period. Narrow curbing stones indi-
cated the position of the houses. These stones had been squared, with
2 inch holes sunk in the upper face at short intervals to receive the
ends of the poles that supported the thatched roof. These dwellings
had been built upon terraces descending towards the sea, and though
they differed greatly in size, the same characteristics were preserved in
all cases. The style of architecture mu^t have been suggested by an
inverted canoe. The curbing walls of the house in the center of this
collection measured 124 feet in length, 12 feet wide in the center, and
converging to 15 inches at the ends.

Among some outcropping rocks near by, a cave was accidentally dis-
covered, with a mouth so small that an entrance was effected with dif-
ficulty. Once inside, however, it branched out into spacious chambers
that could shelter thousands of people with comfort. It bore evidences
of having been used in former years as a dwelling-place, and probably
had other entrances and extensions which w^e failed to penetrate for the

want of time. Human remains were found in this cave, but all very

The caves of Easter Islaud are numerous and extremely interesting
in character. They may be divided into two classes : those worn by the
action of the waves, and those due to the expansion of gases in the
molten lava and other volcanic action. The process of attrition is in
constant progress around the entire coast-line, and the weaker portions
of the rock are being undermined by the incessant beating of the ocean.
Some of these sea-worn caves are of considerable extent, but generally
difQcult of access and afibrdiug little of interest except to the geologist.
The caverns produced by volcanic agencies are found thro\ighout this
islaud, and some were traced through subterranean windings to an out-
let on the bluffs overlooking the sea. They are generally quite dry;
the rain-water falling upon the surface occasionally finds its way be-
tween the cracks or joints in the solid rock, but these gloomy passages
and chambers lack grandeur from the entire absence of stalactites and
deposits of carbonate of lime. Iso glistening and fantastical forms of
stalagmitic decorations exist here to excite the fancj' and create iu the
imagination scenes of fairy-like splendor. The feeble rays of our can-
dles were quickly absorbed by the somber surroundings, heightening
the apparent extent and gloom of the recesses. Careful investigation
proved that all of the caves visited had been used as dwelling-places
by the early inhabitants.

Platform 18 deserved more attention than we were able to give to it,
the facing-stones having been torn from their original position in the
structure and lying scattered about as though thrown down by some
great convulsion of nature. Some of them show evidences of having
been ornamented with rude figures carved on the hard rocks; but the
approach of sundown hastened our steps toward Motukau Point, where
we could see the flags flying over our camp. The day's march had been
exceedingly fatiguing on account of the rugged nature of the ground
and the absence of water, but the last mile or so was accomplislied at
a swinging pace in view of the fact that the camp could not be reached
after darkness had closed in. 'Our course had been around Cape ISTorth,
and covering the territorj^ between the coast and the base of Eana Hana
Kana*. Loose bowlders of everj' imaginable shape and size cover the
ground, threatening sprained limbs and broken bones at every incau-
tious step, as though the expiring energy of the volcanoes had been ex-
l^endedin creating this natural barrier.

Camp Day, named in honor of our commanding officer, was located in
a district known as Vai-mait-tai (good water), but it was decidedly a
misnomer, the supply being ample, but brackish and ill-smelling. After
a hearty meal of mutton, prepared by our guides in true island style,
we sought shelter under the lee of an outcropping rock, fatigued enough
to sleep through the attacks of myriads of noxious insects and regard-
less of the passing showers of rain.

December 23.— A dip ia the sea at daylight, aud a brealifast of mut-
ton which had been slowly roasting all night on hot stones placed in
the ground and covered with earth to prevent the escape of heat, put
us in prime condition for the work in hand. Our route lay along the
north coast of the island and around Anakena Bay, the place where
Hotu-Matua and his followers landed when they arrived from the un-
known aud much-disputed locality from which they migrated. On the
sand beach of this bay we found the small uni valve, the remains of which
were noticed in all the caves aud ruins on the island and which are still
highly esteemed by the natives as an article of food. Jelly-fish, such as
are known to the sailors as "Portuguese men of-war," also abound, and
are esteemed a delicacy by the natives. The entire plain back of An-
akena (La P6rouse) Bay is covered with small platforms, cairns, tombs,
and the ruins of dwellings of various sorts. Houses built of loose stones,
nearly circular in shape, are plentiful ; but they belong to a comparatively
recent date, as is indicated by the fact that the stones, of which they
are constructed, have been taken from the platforms and from the foun
dations of the thatched tents. Any sort of material that came handy
appears to liave been freely used by the builders of these houses. In
several we found well-cut heads that had formerly ornamented image
platforms, built in the walls, some facing inside and others in the op-
posite direction. The ruins in the vicinity show that this had been the
site of a large settlement, and that it continued to be a place of impor-
tance through many generations; but the greatest mystery is how such
a number of people obtained a sufScient supply of fresh water.

Near Anakena is a large image in the best state of preservation of
any found about the platforms of the island. The traditions assert that
this was intended to represent a female, and that it was the last image
completed aud set up in place. Our guides informed us that it was
only thrown down about twenty-four years ago, and previous to that
time it had remained for many years the only statue standing upon a
platform on the island. - Camp Whitney was located at Hangaone Bay,
where we found shelter in a bug-infested cave. The' water supply was
obtained from an ancient tomb near by, aud was both scant in quantity
and nasty in quality. We were, however, in such an indifferent state of
mind that anything wet was acceptable.

December 24.— With the knowledge that we had a particularly hard
march before us, we struck camp early and got under way before it was
fairly light in the morning. Around Cape Pokokoria the rugged nat-
ure of the ground passed over was extremely exhausting. The slopes
of Mount Puakalika are in places covered with coarse hummock-grass
and flowering vines, which look green and attractive during the rainy
season of the year, but which were at this time almost as dry and parched
as though scorched by fire. The toilsome march of this day was height-
ened by the absence of water, and all suffered severely from thirst.

Starting out in the morning with empty canteens, our throats soon be-
came dry and painful. A small quantity of water was found in the
afteruooii in Mount Puakalika crater, thick and unpleasant to look
upon, but aftording valuable relief to our sufferiugs.

The Poike Plains are extensive tracts of fine red volcanic sand and
dust with occasional patches of hummock-grass struggling for exist-
ence in this barren waste. Mauga Tea-tea (White Mountains), so called
from the grayish appearance of the rocks, furnished the stone imple-
ments of the natives. The material was chipped as nearly as possible
into the desired shape and then ground down to a point or edge by
friction upon a hard surface with sand and water. At Anakena and
other points convenient to the sand bea_ch we found grinding-stoues,
together with unfinished and broken implements.

The traditious assert that the island was in former ages densely pop-
ulated, and the legends are supported by the gigantic works of the
image and platform builders and the ruins of various sorts scattered
about. While the accounts are probably greatly exaggerated in regard
to the number of inhabitants at one time, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the people were numerous enough to severely tax for their
support the limited area of ground available for cultivation. The Incaa
of Peru usually selected for burial-places the rocky aud steep slopes of
the hills or the low sandy plains, where cultivation was impossible, aud
presuming that a similar economy might have been practiced here,
much time was devoted to a thorough examiuation of the sand-wastes
at the eastern extremity of the island. Excavations were made at the
esi^ense of great labor iu several places where the indications were
most promising, but with barren results. Diggiug to a depth of 9 feet
in a depression near Cape Anataavanui we found several flat stones of
large size, such as were used for facing the platforms, but the loose,
shifting nature of the sand made it impossible with our small force to
thoroughly investigate them. The trade-winds freely sweep these ele-
vated plains, blowing the sand about, aud creating ridges that may be
leveled again by stronger currents at some other season. Hills and
depressions simply represent the force and direction of the wind at the

Camp Baird was delightfully located in a commodious cave called
Ana Havea, ou the bay of Hanga Nui, near Point Ouetea, aud its
proximity to Eana Roraka where all the monoliths on the island had
been quarried. Tongariki with its rich remains of platforms, images,
cairns, and tombs, and Vailiu and other points not yet explored, were
suflBcient to induce a permanent establishment during the remainder of
our stay at Easter Island. The cave was dry, with spacious entrance
exposed to the full force of the trade-winds, and we were comfortable
to a degree, after dried grass and bulrushes had beeu collected to

sleep upon. Successive generations of natives probably occupied this
ancient cavern; an extensive corral Las been built near by, and Messrs.
Salmon and Brander sleep here wbile rounding up their cattle. Drink-
iug-water, the great desideratum on the island, obtained I'roni sources
that form the crater of Eaua Eoraka, was, owing to its animal and
vegetable impurities, unpalatable, while the supply from the springs
vras more so, but afforded a pleasing variety, which enabled us to
exercise a preference for some other, whenever either kind was used.
The so-called springs are holes into which the sea-water percolates,
and are as salt as the ocean, at high tide, and decidedly brackish at all
other stages.

December 25. — The forenoon was devoted to the exploration of the
face of the bluff to the eastward of Tama Point. Many caves were
reached after difficult and dangerous climbing, and were found to con-
tain nothing of interest, while others of traditional importance were in-
accessible from below, and we were not provided with ropes and the
necessary appliances for reaching them from above. No doubt there
are caves in this vicinity with contracted entrances that have been
covered by loose rocks and intentionally concealed. One such cavern
Mvas found by accident. It contained a small image about 3 feet high,
carved out of hard gray rock. It was a splendid specimen of the work
and could be easily removed to the boat-landing at Tougariki. Retrac-
ing our steps toward the camp, the ground between Puakalika eleva-
tion and Eaua Eoraka was thoroughly examined during the afternoon.
The plain is completely covered with cah?us, tombs, and platforms.
Many of the most promising were completely demolished and the
foundations dug up to a depth of six feet." All contained human re-
mains in various stages of decay, and the earth upon which they were
built proved to be a rich loam filled with seasbells of minute size, free
of stones, while outside of the foundation-walls the composition was
composed of bowlders of all sizes with very little earth. Among the
vast ruins are many fragments of images and crowns scattered about,
and it is evident that platforms were erected and destroyed by suc-
ceeding generations. The traditions assert, and appearances indicate,
that this plain had from the earliest times been one of the most densely
populated districts on the island. Only the remains of walls and cis-
terns were found here. They were generally small, the largest being 9
feet in diameter, 14 feet deep, and surrounded by a sloping bank
paved with small stones to facilitate the collection of rain-water.

In honor of the day, work was suspended earlier than usual, and we
returned to camp a couple of hours before sundown, but we found that
our Ohristmas cheer had been reduced to "hard-tack" and island mut-
ton by the legerde-main of our native assistants, though ample stores
had been provided for the entire expedition. With no indulgence in
indigestible Christmas luxuries, we were enabled to retire to an undis-
turbed rest at an earlier hour than would have been probable in a more
civilized land and with diflereut surroundings.

December 26. — Our native coutingeut deserted in a body at daj light
on the plea that tbeir religious convictions would not permit them to
work on Sunday. Remonstrances and arguments were in vain, and we
had to permit them to depart after exacting a promise that they would
return early the next morning. Luka, the chief guide, lingered a while
to state that his family burial place was beneath the great platform of
Tongariki, and that he had a decided aversion to having the skulls of
his ancestors added to our collection.

Sunday inspection and its attendant functions has through long cus-
tom become second nature with the men who have been long in the serv-
ice, and through the desire to thus mark the day, the most valuable
of our geological specimens were lost. The boatswain's mate took ad-
vantage of our temporary absence to clean up the cave and make it
more presentable, and, in doing so, threw all the stones and "trash " into
the sea. Nothing could be said, in view of the fact that it was done
with the best possible intentions, but he was greatly chagrined to find
that those same stones had been carried over niiiny a weary mile to be
lost now, when it was impossible to obtain duplicates or other specimens
of some of the peculiar formations met with on the hrst days of the trip.

The day was devoted to the examination of the inside of the crater of
Rana Roraka. The walls of the crater are very abrupt except on the
west side, where the lava-flow escaped to the sea, and here the cattle
and horses find easy accesS to the pool of water that has collected in
the bottom. High up on the southern side are the workshoj^s of the
image-builders, extending in irregular terraces quite to the top. Here
we found images in all stages of incompletion (Fig. 10), from the rude

Fig. 10.

outline drawing to the finished statue ready to be cut loose from its
original rock and launched down the steep incline. The modus operandi

appears to have been to select a suitable rock upon wbich the image
was sketcbed in a reclining position. Tbe upper surface having been
carved into shape and entirely fliiished, the last work was to cut the
back loose from tbe rock. This necessitated the exercise of great care
to prevent the breaking off of exposed portions, and was accomplished
by building piles of stones to sustain the weight while it was being un-

Ninety-three statues in all, similar to those shown in Figs. 11 and 12,
were counted inside the crater, and of these forty are standing up, com-
pleted and ready to be transported to the platforms for whicli they were

i '

A A {front view.)

Fig. 12.
Image: Eana Eoraka (back view).

intended. They stand well down towards the bottom of the slope, and
are more or less buried in the earth by the washings from above, as
shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The work of lowering the huge images from the upper terraces to the
bottom of the crater and thence over the wall and down into the plain
below, was of great magnitude, and we are lost in wonder that so mucli
could be accomplished by rude savages ignorant of everything in the
way of mechanical appliances. Tlie average weight of these statues
would be something between 10 and 12 tons, but some are very large
and would weigh over 40 tons. It is possible that a slide was made,
upon which the images were launched to the level ground below;
a number of broken and damaged figures lie in a position to suggest
that idea, but from the bottom of the crater they were transported up
and over the wall and thence over hill and dale to various points all
over the island. Excavations were made at different points inside the

crater, but nothing was fouud of interest beyond a few broken stone
implements tliat had no doubt been used bj' the image-builders.

r n

Buried Imahe: Crater of Rana liiiRAivA.

Fig. 14.

Rana Roraka.

December 27. — We made an early start and visited the image-builders'
workshops on the west side of Eana Eoraka, which are much more ex-
tensive than those on the inside of the crater. These workshops com-
mence well up on the side of the mountain and extend quite to the
summit by irregular terraces. In places these terraces extend one
above another with unfinished images upon each, and the configura-
tion of the land is such as to jireclude all idea of launching the statues
by means of a slide. We were ujiable to arrive at anj' satisfactory
conclusion as to how the immeuse statues on the upper tier of works
could be moved to the i)laiu below, passing over the underlying cavi-
ties where similar works had been quarried. We know the natives had
ropes made of hemp, two kinds of which are indigenous to the island,
but it is difficult to conjecture how these heavy weights were handled
without mechanical appliances. One hundred and fifty-five images
were counted upon this slope iu various stages, iucluding those stand-
ing at the base of the mountain finished and complete, ready for removal

to the platforms. Many of the images in the worlishops are of huge
proportions, but the largest one on the island lies on one of the central
terraces in au unfinished condition and measures 70 feet in length, 14^
feet across the body ; the head being 28^ feet long. Some of tlie stand-
ing statues are in as perfect condition as the day they were finished.

One (Fig. 15) is noticeable from the fact that the head is sliglitly
turned to one side and is known as the " wry-neck," but whether it is
the result of accident or design could not be determined.

Fig. 15. Fig. 10.

Ckatek of Eana Eohaka,

Another excellentspecimeu (Fig. 16) of these remarkable figures stands
near the last mentioned and shows tool-marks around the neck as
though an effort had been made to cut tbe head off. The natives call
this "hiara" and have a tradition to the effect that it belonged to a
powerful clan who were finally defeated in war, and that their enemies
had made an attempt to destroy the statue by cutting off' the head. The
story may be based only upon the mutilation, but the chances are that
it is founded upon fact.

Nothing of importance was found by digging about the images or in
the workshoj)s except broken stone implements which had been used by
the builders. In one of the quarries we found the only trace of sculpt-
ured figures in the viciuitj'.

These emblems were carved upon a smooth rock over a half-finished

December 28. — Shortly after daylight the entire force started maUinff
excavations under the foundations of the image-builders houses, the
ruins of which extend towards Eana Eoraka from Tongariki Bay, on
regular terraces. These peculiar ruins are to be found here in great
numbers both inside and outside of the crater, but do not differ from
those already described. A custom obtained among the islanders, sim-
ilar to that practiced by the tribes of Alaska and other Indians of
America, of burying something of interest or value beneath the door-
posts of their dwellings. Usually it was a smooth beach pebble which
was supposed to have some fetish qualities to bring good luck or ward
off evil influences.

One of the largest of these ruins has an extensively paved terrace in
front. At a depth of about three feet below the surface ot the central
door-way, we found a rough angular tiinty stone with a rudely carved
face upon it. A prominent ruin of the same description inside of the
crater, and another near the workshop on the outside, yielded a hard
stone upon which marks had been carved very similar to those on the
rocks at Orongo.

One of our guides produced from a hiding place three ancient skulls,
described elsewhere, upon the top of which these same mystical figures
had been cut. They were not shown until a reward had been promised,
and the guide claimed to have obtained them in their present condi-
tion from the King's platform.

On the outside of the crater of Eaua Eoraka, near the top and looking
towards the southwest, we found a workshop containing fifteen small
images. These had been overlooked in our former trips to this place.

Scattered over the plains extending towards Vaihu are a large num-
ber of images, all lying face downward. The indications are that
they were being removed to their respective platforms when the work
was suddenly arrested. These heavy weights were evidently moved
by main strength, but why they were dragged over the ground face
downward instead of upon their backs, thus protecting their features,
is a mystery yet unsolved. One statue in a group of three is that of
a female; the face and breast is covered with lichen, which at a short
distance gives it the appearance of being whitewashed.

December '29. — We continued the work of exploration from Yaihu
around the southwest points of the island. Excavations were made
wherever the indications were good, but the results did not differ from
those already described. Mount Orito was visited, from whence the
obsidian was obtained for spear-heads, and also the quarries that pro-
duce the red pigment from which the natives make a red paint by rub-
bing it down with the juice of the sugar-cane. The remainder of the
stay on Easter Island was devoted to the collection of traditions, trans-
lations of tablets, and similar matters of interest.

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson,

Plate XXV.

Report of National Museum, 18tjy. — Thomson.

Plate XXVI.

Iq order to form au estimate of tbe magnitude of tlie work performed
by the image-makers, every one on the island was carefully counted, and
the list shows a total of five hnudred and flfty-flve images (Plates XXV
and XXVI). Of this number forty are standing inside of the crater and
nearly as many more on the outside of Rana Roraka (Plate XXVll), at
the foot of the slope where they were placed as finished and ready for
removal to the different platforms for which they were designed; some
finished statues lie scattered over the plains (Plate XXVIII) as though
they were being dragged toward a particular locality but were suddenly
abandoned. The large majority of the images, however, are lying near
the platforms all around the coast, all more or less mutilated and some
reduced to a mere shapeless fragment. Not one stands in its original
position upon a platform. The largest image is in one of the work-
shops in au unfinished state and measures 70 feet in length; the small-
est was found in one of the caves and is a little short of 3 feet in length.
One of the largest images that has been in ])osition lies near the plat-
form which it x)rnamented, near Ovahe; it is 32 feet long and weighs
50 tons.

Images representing females were found. One at Anakena is called
" Viri-viri Moai-a-Taka" and is apparently as perfect as the day it was
finished ; another, on the plain west of Rana Roraka is called " Moai
Putu," and is in a fair state of preservation. The natives have names
for every one of the images. The designation of images and platforms
as obtained from the guides during the exploration was afterwards
checked off in company with other individuals without confusion in the
record. The coarse gray trachytic lava of which the images were made,
is found only in the vicinity of Rana Roraka and was selected because
the conglomerate character of the material made it easily worked with
the rude stone implements that constituted the only tools possessed by
the natives. The disintegration of the material when exposed to the
action of the elements is about equivalent to that of sandstone under
similar conditions, and admits of an estimate in regard to the proba-
ble age. The traditions in regard to the images are numerous, but
relate principally to impossible occurrences, such as being endowed
with power to walk about in the darkness, assisting certain clans by
subtle means in contests, and delivering oracular judgments. The
legends state that a son of King Mahuta Ariiki, named Tro Kaiho,
designed the first image, but it is difficult to arrive at au estimation of
the period. The journals of the early navigators throw but little light
upon the subject. The workshops must have been in operation at the
time of Captain Cook's visit, but unfortunately his exploration of the
island was not directed towards the crater of Rana Roraka.

Although the images range in size from the colossus of 70 feet down
to the pigmy of 3 feet, they are clearly all of the same type and general
H. Mis. 224, pt. 2—33

cbaracteiistics. Tiie bead is loug, the eyes close under tbe heavy
blows, tlie nose long, low-bridged, and expanded at the nostrils, the
upper li[> short and the lii)s pouting. Tiie aspect is slightly upwards,
and the expression is firm and profoundly solemn. (Jareful investigu
tion failed to detect the slightest evidence that the sockets had evci-
been fitted with artificial eyes, made of bone and obsidian, such as are
placed in the wooden images.

The head was in all cases cat flat on top to accommodate the red
tufa crowus with which they were ornamented, bat the images standing
on the outside of the crater had flatter heads and bodies than those
found aroujid the coast. Tiie images represent the human body only
from the head to tlie hips, where it is cut sqnarely off to aftbrd a good
polygon of support when standing. The artists seem to have exhausted
their talents in executing the features, very little work being done
below the shoulders, and the arms being merely cut in low relief. The
ears are only rectangular projections, bat the lobes are represented
longer in the older statues than in those of more recent date.

The images were desigiied as effigies of distinguished persons and
intended as monuments to perpetuate their memory. They were ues'er
regarded as idols, and were not venerated or worshiped in any manner.
The natives had their tutelary genii, gods, and goddesses, but they were
represented by small wooden or stone idols, which bore no relation to tlie
images that ornamented the burial platforms. The image-makers were a
privileged class, and the profession descended from father to son. Some
of the natives still claim a descent from the image-makers, and refer to
their ancestors with as much pride as to the royal family. One of our
guides never missed an opportunity of stating that one of his fore-
fathers was Unrautahui, the distinguished image-maker.

The work of carving the image into shape and detaching it from the
rock of which it was a part, did not consume a great deal of time, but
the chief difficulty was, in the absence of mechanical contrivances, to
launch it safely down the slope of the mountain and transport it to a
distant point. It was lowered to the plain by a system of chocks and
wedges, and the rest was a dead drag accomplished by main strength. A
roadway was constructed, over which the images were dragged by means
ofropes made of iudigenoushemp, and sea-weed and grass made excellent
lubricants. The platforms were all built with sloping terraces in the
rear, and up this incline a temporary road-way was constructed of a
suitable height, upon which the statue could be rolled until the base
was over its proper resting-place. The earth was then dug away to
allow the image to settle down into position, the ropes being used to
steady it in the mean time. It was a work of great magnitude, but we
can clearly see how it was'accomplished with a large force of able bodied

The crowns, or head ornaments, were made of red vesicular tufa, quar-
ried in the Teraai Hills, where many fiuished specimens are still standing.

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thorrson.

Plate XXVII.

Report of National Museum, I 889.— ThomGon.

Plate XXVIII.

These truucated cones, nearly cylindrical in shape, were easily trans-
ported. The material is readily quarried and fashioned, being light,
only about 1.4 times heavier than water, while the average density of
the image-stone is about 2.1.

The largest crown measured -was 12^ feet in diameter, but of those
that had actually been placed in position the average weight would not
be more than 3 tons. The crowns were placed in position upon the
heads of the standing images by building a road-way upon which they
could be rolled to the proper spot. The clearing away of the incline
was the final act. The earth which formed the surface was utilized as
garden-patches, and the stones which formed the foundation of the road-
way were disposed of in building the wing-extensions of the platform.
The platforms differ greatly in dimensions, but the general plan and
characteristics are invariably the same. Many of them are in a fair
state of preservation, except that the images have been thrown down
a,ud the terraces in the rear obliterated or strewn with rubbish, while
others have been reduced to a state of complete ruin. The platforms
are usually located near the beach, and on the high blutf some of them
are quite near the edge, overlooking the sea. The general plan consists
of a front elevation composed of blocks of stone fairly well squared
and neatly fitted together without cement, a parallel wall forming the
inside boundary, built of uncut stone, inclosing small chambers or
tombs placed at irregular intervals. Loose bowlders fill the spaces
between the tombs and form the horizontal plane of the platform, into
which are let the rectangular stones which constituted the base upon
which the images stood. The fagade stones are large and heavy, and in
some cases the smooth surface presented could not well be attributed
to the rude implements at the command of the builders, and must have
been produced by friction or grinding. Long wings composed of uncut
stone extend from the platform proper, built up to the s>ummit at the
line of junction and sloping away to the surface of the ground at the
ends. In the rear of the platform a few steps descend to a gently
sloping terrace, which terminates in a low wall and is bounded by a
squarely built wall raised above the ground so as to join the top of the
platform. Human remains fill the inner chambers, and bones lie scat-
tered about among the loose bowlders of the platform and its extensions.
The ruined condition of these solid specimens of architecture, with the
overthrown images and immense deposit of loose bowlders on the
surface of the ground, are strongly suggestive of earthquakes and
volcanic eruption. The images in all stages of incompletion in the
workshops, and abandoned en roiite to the coast in various directions,
indicate that the work was suddenly arrested, and not gradually brought
to an end; but the traditions are silent upon the subject, and nc ecord
has been handed down of the disturbance of any of the volcanoes on
the island.

Platform No. 1.— Known to the natives as " Hanga Roa". Only the
base remains, measuring 59 feet long by 7 feet wide. This pile was
demolished to obtain material for the construction of a house for one of
the Catholic missionaries formerly stationed on the island.

Plalform No. 2.— Called "Ana Koiroraroa"; 1(10 feet long by 12^ feet
wide and 10 feet high. The facing-stones on thefroiit line remain intact,
but the body of the platform is a mere mass of loose stones, probably
torn up by the natives in recent years for the purpose of depositing
their dead in these ancient structures. The three statues that formerly
adorned this pile are lying immediately in the rear, and show from
their positions that they had faced inboard, with their backs to the
sea. These images are much weather-worn and defaced : one is entire;
another has the bead lying close by, probably broken off in the fall ;
and the third is minus, the head and with the neck showing saw-marks.
We afterwards found out that a French vessel of war visited the island
a few years ago and the head of this image was cut off by them and
taken to Europe.

Platform No. 3 (See Fig. 17).— Called " Hauga Varevare"; 50 feet
long and 8 feet wide. This has the appearance of an unfinished pile
and is merely a burial place covered with loose rocks and without the
usual smoothly faced stones in front. We found the catacombs or
tombs underneath this platform had been robbed of the uiost ancient
skulls, and concluded that the Frenchmen had taken everything of
interest away.

?lal^oTTTv\lo '5. \ifTuu\e fVestoved,.

FlO. 17.

Platform No. 4.— Called "Tahai"; 100 feet long, 7^ feet wide, and 7
feet high. In a bad state of preservation, but the facing-stones on the
front are sufficiently plain, while the re§b of the pile is a mass of loose

stones. Five large flat stoues at regular iutervals along the platform,
sbow wbere the images once stood. The statues have fallen face down-
ward on the inshore side, and are much broken and dilapidated. The
one on the north end is of gigantic size, and much larger than the
others. The red tufa crown that adorned this image lies near it, and
measures 7 feet 9 inches wide; 5 feet 9 inches in ellipse; and 4 feet 9
inches high, and the top is ornamented by sculptured lines that have
the appearance of geometrical iigares, but are too much obliterated to

Platform No. 5.— Called by the same name as the last, only a few yards
distant, is shaped like a right angle, and it is possible that these two
platforms may have been originally designed for one of huge propor-
tions. The stones of which it is composed have been thrown about iu
such disorder that the original design can not be followed, but the flat
base stones indicate where the images once stood. At one end of this
platform a statue 14 feet high and 9 feet across the hips, lies face
downward on the inboard side, and at the other end, one measuring
15 feet long and 6 feet wide, lies face downward toward the sea, being
one of the few images on the island found iu that position, admitting
the possibility of having faced outboard.

Platform No. C— Called " Anotai"; 120 feet long, 17J feet wide, and 7 J
feet high. In a bad state of preservation, though the faced stones on the
front may be traced. The remains of one image lies on the inboard side,
but minus the head. A large cavity iu the center of the back of this
image attracted attention, but could not be explained. The red tufa
crown belonging to this statue lies half-buried in the earth, about 100
feet distant. Under the center of this platform were obtained some in-
teresting relics, and the tombs bore evidence of great antiquity.

Platform No. 7. — Called "Ahuakapu"; 101 feet long, 9 feet wide, and
8 feet high. In a bad state of preservation. Three images lying on the
front side with the appearance of having been pulled over backwards,
and one upon the inshore side down upon its face. AH four statues
are in good condition, except that the heads have been broken off at the
neck by the fall. One of these detached heads measured 5 feet 3 inches
in length by 3 feet 2 inches from ear to ear. The four pedestal stones
are still in place on the platform and average i feet long and 3 feet 8
inches wide, and are composed of hard volcanic rock, roughly squared.

Platform No. 8. — Called "Anaoraka"; 95 feet long and 8 feet wide
and 7 feet high. Eemarkable for the large stones that support the sea
face, the largest of which measures 6 feet 9 inches high and 4 feet 7
inches wide. Four images have fallen upon their faces upon the in-
board side. Only a pedestal stone remains in position, which is 5 feet
2 inches square by 2 feet 2 inches thick. (Fig. 18).

Platform No. 9.— Called "Kihikihiraumea"; 186 feet long, 8 feet 10
inches wide, and 7 feet 5 inches thick. The central section of this struct-
ure contains stones so remarkably well cut and fitted ogether that it

merits the accompanying sketcli. Four images were found, which had
been thrown down on tlieir faces on the inboard side. Tiiese are in a
fair state of preservation. From this ruin we obtained skulls, obsidian
spear-heads, and stone tools.

ci'^ll'i''- Ground in reaj- of platform, ;.-;j^
^:'fi'--~ proper pa^d. fyztfi^ cobUe, \ y}.^

sec. at ^3

Plan victi' of cc hou:i&

curling a'x.ea

Fig. 18.
Showikg geneuai. plan of construction of platform. Also plan of house coxbtruction with

Platform No. ]0. — Called " Ahutepeu". Is iu such a state of dilapida-
tion that it was impossible to obtain accurate measurements. Portions
of an image are here, but it looks as though others might have been
rolled over the edge of the cliff, which is only a few feet distant and
about 450 feet high, and against the base of which the sea dashes in-

Platform No. 11. — Called " Hanauakou". Central sections 48 feet long,
12 feet wide, and 9 feet high ; total length, with wings, 248 feet. This is
an exceedingly fine platform, and contains some remarkably large stones.
In the face of the main structure are huge blocks of igneous rock that
appear to have once been fashioned into faces and figures, but now so
destroyed by the action of the elements and perhaps by the hand of the
iconoclast that the features can only be dimly traced. Hard work with

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson.

Plate XXIX.

our entire force disclosed heiieatli this platform well constructed cata-
combs and tombs, coiitaitiiiig huiniui remains so old tbat they crumbled
into dust upon exposure to the air. The removal of one of the facing-
stones revealed a lot of skulls with remarkably broad, heavy underjaws.
These were generally too brittle to be handled, and a peculiar featnro
about the find was tlie fact that these heads had been entombed to-
gether, and the surroundings excluded the idea of any other portions of
the l)odies having been interred with them. Only one image is in
sight, and the proximity of the platform to the edge of the bhifi' sug-
gests the possibility that other statues may have beeu thrown into
the sea. From the size and character of the work on the structure it
is not reasonable to suppose that it was designed to support the one
insignificant statue that lies near it.

Ptoyorm i\^o. 12.— Called "Ohau". Central section 18 feet long, 9
feet wide, and G feet high. One image tiirown down upon its face on
the inboard side, 8 feet 4 inches long ; extreme width of body 5 feet ;
length of head 4 feet ; and width from ear to ear, 3 feet 3 inches. Good
state of preservation. (Plate XXIX).

Platform No. 13. — Called "Ahukinokino". In such a state of ruin
that measurements were not obtainable. Situated close to the edge of
the high cliff.

Platform No. li. — Called "Ahutoretore". Has been so completely
destroyed that nothing can be determined about its original size and
importance. Excavations in this vicinity pioduced nothing but a few
stray spear heads of obsidian.

Platform No. 15.-Called " Hangatariri"; 103 feet long, 11 feet wide;
and 6 feet high. In very bad condition, but some of the large cut facing-
stones are in position. Four images lie face downward on the island
side, and two more have fallen on their backs toward the sea. A few
yards back of (his structure is a tomb 50 feet long and 6 feet wide, bnilt
of stones taken from the platform and those peculiarly cut stones that
form the foundations of the image-builders' houses. At one end is a
hard stone slab that api>ears to have beeu covered with hieroglyphics,
but they are too nearly obliterated to be accurately traced. After a
thorough investigation we concluded that it was of comi)aratively
recent date and had no distinctive features of its own. On the plain, a
few hundred yards distant, is an image of gigantic proportions lying
npon its face with the head toward the sea. The indications are that
it was designed for this platform and was being moved into position
when from some sndden emergency it had to be abandoned. The
ground underneath the statue has been dug out by later generations
in such a manner that the body of the image forms the roof of the
cave. The base of the statue shows traces of rudely sculptured figures,
nearly obliterated. In this vicinity are several large caves, with the
narrow entrances completely blocked up with loose stones, which were
not investigated for the want of time.

Platform No. IC— Called " Haugaoteo" ; 70 feet long and 12 feet wide.
Has tbe appearance of having been in process of construction when
tlie work was suddenly suspended.

Platform No. 17.— Called "Tumuheipara" ; 40 feet long, 8 feet wide,
and 8 feet higb. This structure also appears to Lave been abandoned
before completion. The chances are that several days could have been
spent upon the extensive plain, back of these images, to great advan-
tage and it is regretted that the limited time at our disposal did not
allow a more thorough investigation.

Platform No. 18.— Called " Haahuroa". Central section 40 feet long,
12 feet wide, and 7 feet high, with wings 145 feet in length. One image
lying on the inboard side measures 7 feet 5 inches long and 3 feet 5
inches wide; length of head to shoulders 3 feet 4 inches, and width
from ear to ear 3 feet 5 inches. The fragments of two other images lie
in front of the platform. The huge facing-stones of this structure have
been thrown about as though by some great convulsion of nature, and
some of them bear evidences of having been ornamented with sculpt-
ured figures.

Platform No. 19. — Called '' Akaue ". Seems to have been abandoned
while in the ])rocess of construction. A few faced stones intended for
tbe front of the central section are lying about, but were never jilaced
in position.

Platform No. 20. — Called " Ahuroa". Is a mere mass of loose roi;ks,
said to have been destroyed in the tribal wars, but it has the appear-
ance of having never been completed.

Platform No. 21. — Called " Vaiavangarenga". In the same condition
as the last. No images.

Platform No. 22. — Called " Maiki". Same as tbe last; merelj' a pile
of loose stones covering human remains. These platforms may have
been robbed to supply the material for the construction of the numerous
houses and cairns, the ruins of which cover the hills in this vicinity.

Platform No. 23.— Called "Tauka". Central section 38 feet long, 48
feet wide, anil 12 feet high, the extreme length with wings 120 feet. In
very bad condition. One small image lies face-upward toward the sea,
much broken. Facing aud other suitable stones have been removed
from this platform for the construction of tombs and houses. Near at
hand is one of those peculiar ways, made by paving tbe sloping bank
with regular lines of smooth, lound bowlders, as though intended for
hauling up heavy boats or weights,

Platform No. 2i. — Called " Punamuta". In its incipient stage, and
important only fron:; the fact that it shows the manner of laying the
foundation of the work.

Platform No. 25. — Called " Koteva". This has been an important
structure and was built in the shape of a right angle GO feet long, 11
feet wide, and 20 feet high. Portions of the walls have been thrown
down, and no images could be found.

Plaf/orni No. 26. — Culled " Tetoiigii". Similar in Khape and structure
to tlie last, but of smaller size. From these piles we obtained relics in
the shape of obsidian spearheads, stone implemeuts, and skulls.

Platform No. 37,— Called " Hanghaogio"; 150 feet long, 8 feet wide,
and 10 feet high. Three small images have been thrown down and
much broken.

Platform No. 28.— Called " Huarero". Very similar to the last, but
located on the hill-side about three-quarters of a mile back of the bay.
The facing-stones show traces of carving, but so nearly obliterated that
only these figures could be made out: Qy cfi, and they seemed to bo
often repeated. The fragments of two images lie behind the platform.

Platform No. 29.— Called " Anakena"; 75 feet long, 8 feet wide, and
10 feet high. An image li^s upon its face upon the inboard side, 13
feet long and 9 feet across the hips; length of head, to shoulders, 5
feet, and width, from ear to ear, G feet 6 inches. This image is in the
best state of preservation of any found about the platforms of the
island. The traditions state that it was the last statue finished and
set up in place. Our guides raaintaiued that this is the statue of a
female, and that it was only thrown down about twenty-four years ago.
Its size, and proximity to the perfectly smooth landing place nt Ana-
kena Bay, would insure its easy removal to a vessel. From the sand
beach at Anakena Bay we passed over hills comi)oseil of volcanic cin-
der as light as coke, but very hard. Beyond this are numerous ruins
of houses, each with a small stone building connected that was evi-
dently designed for fowls. The largest of those was about 8 feet square,
and the only opening was a small hole for the chickens to pass

Platform No. 30. — Called " Ahutrature". Central section 30 feet long,
10 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length 80 feet. In ruins, with no

Platform No. 31.— Called "Anateka"; 30 feet long, 12 feet wide, and
7 feet high. Extreme length 100 feet. In a very bad condition.
Small fragments are all that remain of two images and two crowns.

Platform No. 32.— Called " Ahupuapuatetea". Merely a shapeless
mass of uncut stones remain to indicate the site of the structure.

Platform No. 33.— Called " Ahangakihikihi "; 20 feet long, 10 feet
wide, and 9 feet high. In ruins. One small image lies on the inboard
side iu a bad condition.

Platform No. 34,— Called "Puuahoa". Although in ruins, this has
evidently been a structure of some importance; 175 feet long, 8 feet
wide, with the central section projecting G feet forward of the main
line. The facing-stones are from G feet to 9 feet iu length by 5 feet and
1 foot in thickness. An image lies upon its face on the inboard side,
and measures 32 feet long, 10 feet 3 inches wide; length of head, to
shoulders, 12 feet and 6 inches. Near this platform we found a peculiar
stone nearly buried in the earth. After much digging it proved to be

neaiij' spherical in shape and about 8 feet 4 iiiclies in cironnifereTice.
The natives cialied it " Petaknla". and wc could ouly mnko out that it
was a grinding stoTie of some sort.

Platform N'o. 35.— (Jelled " Tuapau" ; 150 feet long, 1(» feet wide, and
8 feet high, with a small platform in front of it. The building of this
elaborate structure must have furnished employment for a large num-
ber of people. The foundation stones are of hard rock of immense size,
all smoothly faced. Four images have been thrown down, two on each
side, and all much broken.

Platform No. 3C>.—GMg(\ " Hangakouri''. Central section 70 feet long,
7 feet wide, and 8 feet high. Extreme length 300 feet. In a state of
absolute ruin and no images.

riatform No. 37. — Called "Hangahohoonu". Completely in ruins and
-with one image in a bad condition. Between these last two platforms
is a paved way leading to a small channel through the rocks that
aftbrds a safe and convenient landing for small boats.

Platform No. 38.— Called •' Mari". Central section 80 feet long, 12 feet
wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length 300 feet, situated very close to
edge of the bluff.

Platform No. 39. — Called " Alinrai". Very large; but, like the last, in
a state of ruin.

Platform No. 40. — Called " Tehahitunukiolaira". Of great size; but,
like the last, in a state of absolute ruin; covering human remains.

Platform No. 41. — Called " Naruaanga". Small and inferior ; also in
ruins and no images.

Platform No. 42 — Called " Hangaopnna" ; 100 feet long and 10 feet
wide. Has two layers of roughly cut stones in the front face, and ap-
pears to have been left in an unfinished state.

Platform No. io. — Called "Tumatuma"; 25 feet long, 7 feet wide, and
7 feet high. Poorly constructed, and contains nothing of interest but
one small image.

Platform' No. 4:4:. — Called "Tokaie". Larger than the last, but in a
bad cnndition. A much battered head lies just behind the pile, but the
rest of the image can not be found.

Platform No. 45. — Called " Vaimaugeo" ; 50 feet long, 8 feet wide, and
15 feet high. Extreme length, including wings, 150 feet. In a state of
ruin, and has one large image thrown down on the inboard side.

Platform No. 4G. — Called " Moukuhoi"; 50 feet long, 7 feet wide, and
5 feet high. Extreme length, including wings, GO feet. Situated very
close to the edge of the bluff, and looks as if the destroyers of the struct-
ure might have tossed the most of it into the sea.

Platform No. 47. — Called " Moukuroa". In all respects a duplicate of
the last one.

Platform No. 48.— Called " :\lotuariki"; 20 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 5
feet high. Extreme length, including wings, 2G0 feet. This has been a
large and imposing structure. The central section, upon which theini-

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson,

Plate XXX

Report of National Museum, 1889.— ThofT

Plate XXXI.

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5 to
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Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson.

Plate XXXII.

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson,

Plate XXXIII.

..•Sai^iS'- ..1

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate XXXIV.

ase stood projects beyond tlie, line of the platform, aiul was higber. In
the rear, and extending tlio entire length' of the pile, is a broad terrace,
neatly paved with smooth round bowlders. The fragments of three im-
ages lie npon the terrace.

Platform Wo. i9. — Called " Oneonepuhea". Oentralsection is about
45 feet long by 6 feet high. This is a crescent-shaped structure, and the
only one of the kind that we saw on the island. It is situated on the
extreme edge of the cliff, which at this point has a straight away fall of
over 500 feet to the sea, which dashes against its wall-like base. There
is no image in sight, l)ut a large pedestal stone, inclined at a sharp angle
towards the sea, shows where one has stood and suggests what became
of it.

Platform No. 50. — Called "Ahutakaure". Located on Poike cliflf,
facing westward; is small and unimportant and in a state of complete
ruin. On the east slope of the mountain we found an image, the head
of which had been broken off, but it lies near by. There is no platform
here and no indications that one was intended to be built in the vicinity;
so we concluded that the statue was being moved to some distant locality
when it was broken and abandoned.

Platform No. 51. — Called "Hangaiti"; 30 feet long and 8 feet wide and
5 feet high. In a bad condition and one small image broken.

Platform No. 52. — Called "Tongariki "; 150 feet long, 9 feet wide, and
8 feet high (Plates XXX-XXXIV). Extreme length, including orig-
inal wings, 540 feet. This is the largest platform on the island, and
was ornamented with fifteen gigantic statues. These have been thrown
down upon their faces on the inshore side, and the most of these are
broken, the one on the south end being fractured across the middle of
the body, leaving the lowei' section still standing. The red tufa crowns
are lying a short distance away and are also much broken. The hard
stones of which the sea-front of this platform is constrncted are of im-
mense size, fiiced and neatly joined together. One of the foundation-
stones in the center of this wall is of red tufa and represents a human

Our investigations were commenced at this point by throwing down
the facing-stones and working straight backwards through the plat-
form. The labor was great, and occupied the most of our force for nearly
two days, but the catacombs and tombs underlying the structure were
thoroughly examined. Under the central section are small, narrow pas-
sages forming a part of the original design, having been built up while
the platform was in i)rocess of construction, and containing human re-
mains. The oldest of these tombs appear to have been sealed up before
the structure Avas completed, and the probability is that they were not
intended to be opened, from the fact that there is nothing to indicate
their exact locality. The pedestal-stones, all of which are still in place,
show that the images were put up at equal distances and with a view
to symmetry, and without regard to the position of the tombs; though

it is pretty well establisbed that they were iuteuded as eifigies of chiefs
or distiuguished persons. Tlie terrace behind the iilatforra was also
used as a burial-place, and contained remains of an ancient date. Suc-
ceeding generations have utilized the same i^laces for the same purposes,
but there are passages under the platform that have never been opened
since the structure was built. The entire plain back of Tongariki Bay
is one vast cemetery, containing the decaying remains of thousands of
people. Every pile of stones, cave or ruined platform, house or cairn,
has been used as a tomb. The christianized natives of today still re-
gard this as a favorite burial-place. They have neither the ambition nor
the industry to construct tombs for themselves, but are content to place
their dead in receptacles filled with thereraaiusof their ancestors. The
recess-angles between the bodies of the fallen images, and the platforms
ujion which the base rests, are filled with remains of a recent date.

Plaiform No. 53. — Called "One-tea". Completely in ruins. Three
images much broken. Foundation proper about 100 feet long.

Platform Ko. 54. — Called " Opaarionga". Small and unimportant.
Central section 20 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Eemains of
one small image.

Platform No. 55.— Called " Hangatufata"; 125 feet long, 8 feet wide,
and 7 feet high. Five images thrown down, broken and in bad con-

Platform No. 56. — Called " Onemakihi". Central section iO feet long,
7 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length, including wings, 100
feet. One image much mutilated.

Platform No. 57. — Called '• Puuakape''. Central section 40 feet long,
feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length 80 feet. In ruins, and
no images.

Platform. No. 58.— Called " J\Ioaitutahi ". Central section 150 feet
long, 7 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length 250 feet. Only
two images remain, but appearances indicate that others have been
destroyed. Upon terraces sloping towards the sea from the front are
numerous remains of image-builders' houses. From the back of the
structure a nicely paved w^ay, 10 feet wide, extends inland for a dis-
tance of 200 yards.

Platform No. 59. — Called "Hanga-mahihikn". A mere mass of ruins,
and almost devoid of shape. No images.

Platform No. CO.- Called "Ahuakoi". Central section 75 feet long,
7 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length, 100 feet. In a bad con-
dition, and no images.

Platform No. 61.— Called " Hanga-tutuki". A mere mass of ruins
covering humau remains.

Platform No. 62.— Called "Ahupoepoe". In same condition as the
last and without images.

Platform No. 63.— Called " Yairaoai". Central section 40 feet long, 6
feet wide, and 8 feet high. Extreme length, 90 feet. In bad condition
and no images.

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson,

Plate XXXV.

Platform No. 64.— Called "Kai". Same dimensions and general
appearance as the last, but has one broken image.

Platform No. 65.— Galled " liuruoa". Central section 150 feet long,
7 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length, including wings, 275
feet. Two- large images, each 33 feet in length by 5 wide. Length of
head, to shoulders, 10 feet, and width, from ear to ear, 4 feet. The
stones on the front wall of the structure are neatly squared and
smoothly faced.

Platform No. 66.— Called "Mahatua". Central section 30 feet long,
7 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length, 100 feet. Two images,
much defaced, lie on the inboard side on their faces. Between this
platform and the last there is a nicely graded and ])aved road, with
gentle slope from the cliff to the water edge.

Platform No. 67.-^Called " Ahukirirera". Has been pretty well de-
molished. No images.

Platform No. 68. — Called " Tehangakiri". Central section 40 feet
long, 7 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length, 250 feet. Here are
seven images, three large ones and four small-sized, all in a damaged

Platform No. 69. — Called "Kirikiriroa". Has been pretty thoroughly
demolished, and has the fragments of one image.

Platform No. 70. — Called "Onepuhea". A duplicate of the last one
in all respects.

Platform No. 71.— Called " Hanga-tetera" ; 60 feet long, 6 feet wide,
and 7 feet high, and has no wings. The main stones of sea-face
average in size 5J feet long and li feet wide. No images.

Platform No. 72. — Called "Hangarea". Has been completely de-
molished and the fragments of two images lie among the ruins.

Platform No. 73. — Called " Oteu ". Has a small foundation and seems
to have been abandoned in an unfinished condition.

Platform No. 74. — Called "Tahureue". Has been destroyed, and the
fragments of two images lie in the ruins.

Platform No. 75.— Called " Oroi ''. Central section 40 feet long, 6 feet
wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length, 140 feet. In a bad condition
and no images.

Platform No. 76. — Called "Ahukiuokino ". Somewhat smaller than
the last, but destitute of all interest.

Platform No. 77. — Called "Papaturei". A duplicate of the last, and
in a demolished condition.

Platform No. 78.— Called " Tutuira". A mere mass of ruins, and with

no images.

Platform No. 79.— Called " Ue ". Central section 30 feet long, 6 feet
wide, 6 feet high. Extreme length, 120 feet. Two images in a bad con-

Platform No. 80.— Called "Akahanga" (Plate XXXV). Two hun-
dred aud fifty feet long, 10 feet wide, and 7 feet high, with no wings.

Thirteeu colossal images that ouce ornameuted tliis remarkable struc-
(ure have been thrown dowu aud more or less damaged. Their red
tufa crowns, also considerably broken, lie near at hand. Ou the in-
land facing-wall there is a grouud tier of gray volcanic stone finely
dressed, and on this is a tier of tufa stones 4J feet long, 2i feet high,
and S inches thick each, aud these are covered with hieroglyphics.
This is known as the King's platform, and is regarded as one of the
most important ou the island, on account of the finished work on the
structure as well as the numerous sculptures (Fig. 19). The tradition

Fig. 19.
sculptuked ijock: king's platform.

asserts that this was the burial place of Hotu-Matua, the first king,
and a long line of his descendants. Our excavations in the vicinity
produced nothing of interest beyond a few ancient skulls with lower
jaws of extraordinary size and width. From the foundation of image-
builders' houses we obtained fine stone implements and carving tools.

Platform No. 81. — Called "Harerora". Small aud unimportant. One
image, much broken.

Platform No. 82.— Called "Motuopope". Central section 252 feet
long, 10 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length, 375 feet. Six im-
ages in rather bad condition. This structure is important from the fact
that the statues have short ears, the only ones of the kind we found on
the island. The sketches will show that on all the platforms, as well
the images in the workshops as those left in an unfinished state were
all carved with long ears. Why there was an exception made to the
general rule in the images that adorned this structure, could not be

Platform No. S3. — Called "Anaonero". Consisting of foundation
stones only, showing that the work was abandoned shortly after being

Platform No. 84. — Called "Huareva". A mere mass of ruins.

Platform No. 85. — Called "Hoekoe". Has been completely demol-
ished and shows fragments of two large images.

Platform No. SO. — Called "Pakaea". Central section 45 feet long 8
feet wide, aud 7 feet high, with wings extending 250 feet on either side.
One image, in a bad condition.

Platform No. 87. — Called "Manumea". A mere mass of ruins.

Platform No. S8.— Called "Hauga-tee". Same condition as the last.

Platform No. 89. - Called "Kopeiti". Only the fouudation-stoues in
place; probably never flnisbed.

Platform No. 90.— Called '■Eunga-vae". Same condition as last.

Platform No. 91.— Called "Kote-one". In same unanished state.

Platform No. 92.— Called "Eenga-bavini". A mere mass of ruins.

Platform No. 93.— Called "Kote-ara ara". In a complete state of

Platform No. 94.~Called "Puepau". In same condition as the last.

Platform No. 95.— Called " Kiraau ". A shapeless ruin.

Platform No. 96.— Called "Taroe". Central section 200 feet long, 8
feet wide, and 6J feet high. Extreme length, 350 feet. Eleven images,
all mutilated.

Platform No. 97.— Called "Arilci-iki". A shapeless ruin. .

Platform No. 98.— Called " Kone iti ". Same condition as the last.

Platform No. 99.— Called " Koturara". In a very bad condition, with
one brolien image.

Platform No. 100.— Called "Moturea". In a state of absolute ruin.

Platform No. 101. — Called "Hangapaukura". Shows that it was
originally well built, and has six images lying behind it.

Platform No. 102. — In a very bad condition, and the name could not
be ascertained.

Platform No. 103. — Called "Mataakira". A shapeless mass of ruins.

Platform No. 104.— Called "Anokahi". Similar to the last.

Platform No. 10~>. — Called "Hauga-hahiie". In a bad condition, but
Las been an extensive structure with long wings. Four images.

Platform No. 106. — Called "Tehuteaheru". A mass of ruins.

Platform No. 107. — Called "Ahumeamea". Small and irregular con-
struction. One image much damaged.

Platform No. 108. — Called "Ahumata-iti". This structure has been
pretty thoroughly demolished and shows the fragments of one image.

Platform No. 109. — Called "Tahiri". The dimensions of the structure
are not great, but it is remarkable on account of the finished workman-
ship. The sea front is built of immense blocks of hard heavy volcanic
rock, smoothly faced and neatly joined together. In places, small stones
have been mortised into the larger ones. It is surprising that such
results could be produced by the rude stone implements that are known
to have been the only tools at the command of the natives. Finished
surfaces might be the result of grinding with sand and water, but the
joints and fittings could only be accomplished by long and patient
labor. Some of the facing-stones were estimated at a weight of up-
wards of 5 tons. Under the impression that the superior character
of the work indicated a platform of more than usual importance, it was
thoroughly investigated at the expense of great labor and time. A
section of the front wall was thrown down and the stones removed

until an opening was made clear through the structure. Ko results
having been obtained except a knowledge of how the pile was con-
structed from the foundation up, additional efforts were directed
towards the two ends. To our great disai)pointment, we had nothing
to show for the great labor expended upon this platform. The only
human remains about the place are those of recent date, in shallow
tombs on the rear side of the pile. There is a tradition to the effect
that this was the last platform built on the island and was intended
for the colossal image (70 feet) lying in the workshops on the west
side of the crater of Eana Eorakn. The legend asserts that when the
work upon the platform and images had arrived at a certain stage, a
great feast was held in honor of the event by the i)0werful tribe of
Vinapu. The wife of the chief was of the Tongnriki clan and during the
ceremonies this "lady" was slighted in the division of "long pig," but
whether intentionally or otherwise does not appear. Cannibalism was
practiced on the island down to the advent of the first missionaries, and
was always an important feature of the ancient feasts. The bodies
were roasted in ovens made of hot stones covered with earth, after the
manner practiced all through Polynesia, and certain portions were
awarded to prominent individuals. Upon this particular occasion the
rib-roast, "tenderloin" steak, or whatever the favorite morsel was which
belonged to the aforesaid female by reason of her rank, was given to
another. The insulted individual immediately sought the protection
of her own clan, who arose en manse to vindicate the Tongariki honor.
Long and bloody wars followed. Image-builders and platform-makers
were drawn into the conflict from all parts of the island and, in a spirit
of revenge, platforms were destroyed and images thrown down when-
ever opportunity offered. This is believed to have been the origin of
the trouble which has laid waste the extraordinary works of this island.

Fir,. 20.

PlATFOUM 110. "ViNAPU.'

Platform No. 110.— Called "Vinapu" (Fig. 20). A large structure
with six mutilated images, and of the same general character and
appearance as those already described. Immediately behind this plat-
form a wall of earth incloses a piece of ground about 325 feet iu

diameter and circular in sliape. This is believed to have been the
theater of the native ceremonies, and perhaps the spot where the feasts
were held. We made excavations in the center and around the sides,
but without a "find."

Platform No. HI.— Called "Ahutupai." Has been pretty thoroughly
demolished. Six images in a bad condition lie on the top of the pile.

Platform No. 112.^Called "Ahurikinki." Situated on the extreme
southwestern end of the island, and remarkable from its position on the
face of a perpendicular cliff nearly 1,000 feet high and midway between
the sea and the top. Sixteen small images are lying on this platform
and many of them seem to be in excellent condition. We could find no
way of reaching the narrow ledge upon which this platform stands. No
road leads down from the top; it can not be approached from either side,
and from below it is a straight up and down wall against which the sea
dashes continually. It is hardly probable that the images were lowered
from the top by ropes, and the natural conclusion is, that a roadway
once existed, which has been undermined by the waves and has fallen
into the sea.

Platform No. 113.— Called "Kaokaoe." This was originally a large
structure, but has been completely demolished by Mr. Brander to obtain
material for the construction of stone-feuces about his place.

The principal feature of interest, connected with Easter Island, is the
written language by which the ancient traditions and legends were per-
petuated. The existence of the incised tablets was not known until the
missionaries settled upon the island. Numerous specimens were found
iu the possession of the natives, but no especial attention appears to
have been directed towards them. Several persons, belonging to vessels
that were wrecked at Easter Island, report having seen these tablets, but
they were so highly prized by the natives, that they could not be induced
to part with them. The three hundred islanders who emigrated to
Tahiti had in their possession a number of these tablets ; they created
some attention on account of the I'einarkable skill with which the figures
wereexecuted, but they were highly prized by the owners and no effort
was made to secure them because their real value was not discovered.
The Chilian corvette O^Higgins visited Easter Island in January, 1870,
and Captain Gaua secured three tablets, two of which are ou deposit in
the national museum at Santiago de Chili and the third was sent to
France, but does not appeared to have reached its destination. Paper
impressions and casts were taken from the Chilian tablets for the
various museums of Europe. Those sent to the English Ethnological
Society created some interest after a time, but others sent to Berlin
were regarded as stamps for marking native cloth (Mittheiluugen, July,
1871). Seven of these tablets are now iu the possession of Tepano
Jansser, bishop of Axieri, all iu excellent state of preservation.
H. Mis. 224, pt. 2 33

While the Mohican was at Tahiti, the bishop kiudly permitted us to
examine these tablets and take photographs of them. These tablets
were obtained from the missionaries who had been stationed on Easter
Island, and they ranged in size from 5J inches in length by 4 inches
broad, to 5J feet in length and 7 inches wide. Diligent search was
made for specimens of these tablets during our visit to Easter Island.
At first the natives denied having any, but Mr. Salmon knew of the
existence of two, and these were finally purchased after a great deal of
trouble and at considerable expense. The tablets obtained are in a fair
state of preservation. The large one is a piece of drift-wood that from
its peculiar shape is supposed to have been used as a portion of a canoe.
The other is made of the toromiro wood indigenous to the island. In
explanation of the ilisappearauce of these tablets, the natives stated
that the missionaries had ordered all that could be found to be burned,
with a view to destroying the ancient records, and getting rid of every-
thing that would have a tendency to attach them to their heathenism,
and prevent their thorough conversion to Christianity. The loss to the
science of philology by this destruction of valuable relics is too great
to be estimated. The native traditions in regard to the incised tablets
simply assert that Hotu-Matua, the first king, possessed the knowledge
of this written language, and brought with him to the island sixty-seven
tablets containing allegories, traditions, genealogical tables, and proverbs
relating to the land from which he had migrated. A knowledge of the
written characters was confined to the royal family, the chiefs of the
six districts into which the island was divided, sous of those chiefs, and
certain priests or teachers, but the people were assembled at Auekena
Bay once each year to hear all of the tablets read. The feast of the
tablets was regarded as their most important fete day, and not even war
was allowed to interfere with it.

The combination of circumstances that caused the sudden arrest of
image-making, and resulted iu the abandonment of all such work on the
island, never to be again revived, may have had its effect upon the art
of writing. The tablets that have been found in the best stage of pres-
ervation would correspond very nearly with the age of the unfinished
images in the workshops. The ability to read the characters may have
continued until 1864, when the Peruvian slavers captured a large num-
ber of the inhabitants, and among those kidnapped, were all of the of-
ficials and persons in authority. After this outrage, the traditions, etc.,
embraced by the tablets, seem to have been repeated ou particular occa-
sious,but the value of the characters was not understood and was lost to
the natives. A man called UreVaeiko,oueof the patriarchs of the island,
professes to have been under instructions in the art of hieroglyphic read-
ing at the time of the Peruvian visit, and claims to understand most of the
characters. Negotiations were opened with him for a translation of the
two tablets purchased ; but he declined to furnish any information, on tLie
ground that it had been forbidden by the priests. Presents of money and

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate XXXVI.

irjc. l2^'- Rjfc

— - .<r

Report of National Museum, 1889.— Thorr

Plate XXXVII.

^s=rr ir''^ i^-^^=^ -gs;:? ■'i-^^,..;^^ <' Sif -• - ^

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^^•. '^== ^iS 3LS "^iri^i^-irr^.'-— -

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ES It c^ ^^ft.^'(^' ^-

=?=■ Si-O:

valuables were sent him from time to time, but he invariably replied to all
overtures that he was now old and feeble and had but a short time to
live, and declined most positively to ruin his chances for salvation by
doing what his Christian instructors had forbidden. Finally the old fel-
low, to avoid temptation, took to the hills with the determination to re-
main in hiding uutil after the departure of the Mohican. It was a mat-
ter of the utmost importance that the subject should be thoroughly in-
vestigated before leaving the island, and unscrupulous strategy was the
only resource after fair means had failed. Just before sundown one
evening, shortly before the day appointed for our sailing, heavy clouds
rolled up from the southwest and indications pointed to bad weather.
In a heavy down-pour of rain we crossed the island from Vinapu to Ma-
teveri with Mr. Salmon, and found, as had been expected, that old Ure
Vaeiko had sought the shelter of his own home on this rough night. He
was asleep when we entered and took charge of the establishment.
When he found escape impossible he became sullen, and refused to look
at or touch a tablet. As a compromise it was proposed that he should
relate some of the ancient traditions. This was readily acceded to, be-
cause the opportunity of relating the legends to an interested audience
did not often occur, and the positive pleasure to be derived from such
an occasion could not be neglected. During the recital certain stimu-
lants that had been provided for such an emergency were produced, and
though not pressed upon our ancient friend, were kept prominently be-
fore him uutil, as the night grew old and the narrator weary, he was in-
cluded as the " cufj that cheers" made its occasional rounds. A judi-
cious indulgence in present comforts dispelled all fears in regard to the
future state, and at an auspicious moment the photographs of the tab-
lets owned by the bishop were produced for inspection. Old Ure Vae-
iko had never seen a photograph before, and was surprised to find how
faithfully they reproduced the tablets which he had known in his young
days. A tablet would have met with opposition, but no objection could
be urged against a photograph, especially something possessed by the
good bishop, whom he had been instructed to reverence. The photo-
graphs were recognized immediately, and the appropriate legend related
with fluency and without hesitation from beginning to end. The story
of all the tablets of which we had a knowledge was flually obtained,
the words of the native being written down by Mr. Salmon as they were
uttered, and afterwards translated into English.

A casual glance at the Easter Island tablets is sufficient to note the
fact that they diifer materially from other kyriologic writings. The
pictorial symbols are engraved in regular lines on depressed channels,
separated by slight ridges intended to protect the hieroglyphics from
injury by rubbing. In some cases the characters are smaller, and the
tablets contain a greater number of lines, but in all cases the hiero-
glyphics are incised and cover both sides as well as the beveled edges
and hollows of the board upon which they are engraved. The symbols

on each line are alternately reversed; those on the first stand npright,
and those on the next line are upside down, and so on by regular alter-

This unique plan makes it necessary for the reader to turn the tablet
and change its position at the end of every line; by this means the
characters will be found to follow in regular procession. The reading
should commence at the lower left-hand corner, on the particular side
that will bring the figures erect, and followed as the characters face in
the procession, turning the tablet at the end of each line, as indicated.
Arriving at the top of the first face, the reading is continued over the
-edge to the nearest line, at the top of the other side, and the descent
continues in the same manner until the end is reached. The Bonstro-
phedon method is supposed to have been adopted in order to avoid the
possibility of missing a Hue of hieroglyphics.

Ure Vaeiko's fluent interpretation of the tablet was not interrupted,
though it became evident that he was not actually reading the charac-
ters. It was noticed that the shifting of position did not accord with
the number of symbols on the lines, and afterwards when the photo-
graph of another tablet was substituted, the same story was continued
without the change being discovered. The old fellow was quite dis-
composed when charged with fraud at the close of an all-night session,
and at first maintained that the characters were all understood, but he
could not give the signification of hieroglyphics copied indiscriminately
from tablets already marked. He explained at great length that the
actual value and significance of the symbols had been forgotten, but the
tablets were recognized by unmistakable features and the interpreta-
tion of them was beyond question; just as a person might recognize a
book in a foreign language and be perfectly sure of the contents with-
out being able to actually read it.

Beyond doubt certain legends are ascribed to particular tablets, all
of which are named, and a reference to those names will recall the ap-
propriate story from those who do not profess to understand the hiero-
glyphics. An old man called Kaitae, who claims relationship to the
last king, Maurata, afterwards recognized several of the tablets from
the photographs and related the same story exactly as that given pre-
viously by Ure Vaeiko.

The writing is composed of pictorial symbols carrying their significa-
tion in the image they represent. The execution would be a creditable
production with the assistance of the best etching tools, and is a truly
wonderful result of patience and industry to be accomplished by means
of obsidian points. The minute size of the hieroglyphics made it im-
possible to convey anything more than the general appearance of the
objects delineated, but the figures may be recognized by their form in
the outline drawing after the manner of some of the Egyptian hiero-
glyphics. The study of the tablets is chiefly difficult on account of the
way in which actual objects are conventioually treated, and in order to

preserve symmetry aud effect, meD, cauoes, fisb, etc., are represented
of the same size tbrougliout the lines.

A careful study of the hieroglyphics of Easter Island is being made
with the hope that Valuable information may be obtained in regard to
the early history and origin of the people. Results of an extremely inter-
esting nature are barely outlined at present and not in shape to bepre-
sented herewith. It is not considered expedient to attempt an expla-
nation of the symbols until the subject can be treated exhaustively. As
an example of the ideographic character of the signs, the tablet contain-
ing the genealogical tables shows a frequent repetition of the symbol of
the great spirit Meke-Meke in connection with that of the female vulva.
The signification is the birth of a person. The position of the figures
shows whether the child was the result of marriage, or intrigue, and the
following figures indicate the date of the birth, the seasons and the ap-
proximate time. An important feature, in connection with the tablets, is
the fact that forms h Ave been discovered which have no types on Easter
Island, and which may lead to au identification of the locality from
■whence the first settlers migrated. The hieroglyphics include, besides
the representation of actual objects, figures used by the chiefs, and each
clan had its distinctive mark. Samples are given in different treaties
made with the islanders of the sign-manual of some of the chiefs. (See
Plates XXXVI-XLIX.)

(Plates XXXVI and XXXVII.)

Timo te kakaha piki apai te roria aruki e tangata Mobonakuta mo-
honga matangi en-i apai ia ra Techo i te ika maboi rua matangi apai ti-
rori mahoi rua matangi tahoi te tha tahoi hakavirri ia tapui rurenga
tahri te ika tahoi te ata e tau ira tau na mimi hara rau kina ata rangi
no no tupa kan k maka reva atea e tau ira matuku hara atarungi no no
tapairu reuga ava ki hoato.

Houa kata-kata hura matini rau hanga tamaru kia tun ama tavake
toto tunmakeuka tantan mea te kura. Ki hi honga te kura e aku ta-
jjaini kari mao aku hoa-hoa tae kote kura mata ki rei aaku tapa iru nei
kairi mai aku hora-hora tae kote kura.

Mata ki rei mata ku haka iri n:arai matairi maru matai maru kairira
tapui rei tapui ranga muku kiri mai aku hoa-hoa tae kote kura. Mata,
ki rei mata ku haka iri maru matai maru matai rara ku uira tapui rei
tapui rei tapu ranga muku kairi mai aku hora-hora kapainga mai. E.
taugaroa te mare kura hapai e haka ihi mo topa rei kura taku tapo rei
huu atu arua tae haath rangi ura rangi hara-tua oaku matua oaku ma
tenga otae ahiri noa ranga ki te rangi no te munniri a rua hiru te hetu
takiri ko mumu ana kia kake mao-mao ake. Haka tau Bra a Nuku te
atua, Atara kabiria a uka hopua. Tun haka maua kura. Tun te ha.
hei kura. Tun te tieaituiri kura. Tuu te matangi e ria a mangaro.

Tan tahake oi taura te heriinga taku ohu tatuhiDga tanku mato kapi-
piri te hetun tan aranga noi ruga vake noi runga.

Maruaua ha heire mana mahahine mauaira taake. Te herauga taku
oho te tuhinga taku mata mata ka pipiri te hetii tau avanga no iriuga
Vake-vake. No iri uga vake rei manana hahinie E te mai ran o tun e
katan, ra, ka piapiri ra e te maraioturi e kakapurae kahakpiri e kaho-
notake mate aa tapu onote ariiki no Manana hahine no Mauanatake a
niramai te raugi kai a ku ia umika uri te hainu tokotokona to ran e
nui a tapu te tai nate ariiki. E. hopu a ia e tapu te tai no te tapa iru
e kore kaukau a ia haharua tau kapa tau kaiugoh i te an mata heuna,
mariunga te hou i te an matalieune mariunga te houga ma tau arapeka
hoa mai iakeho iti hiti aura hiti apauoko hue taka haahaaruatau kape
tau hai ugotopiria tamu ara te uaua na Heke i kai te hunue kara te
nahoapu, pue hatataka i te an mata mo tara haieka i te peka akatau
o miruiiga te hounga mo tara haieka. Panga tiorei uuku horo papa
tara naeaki i te pou tuu. Panga te orei nuku horo papa hoake mataue
uake tahau te uauai e oho te nauai e rai te nauau nauai kino noho ava-
ava tauake te kete irnuga te niu ei ia hoa ko ni ni ei ia boa o Eionou
tona koake mlitoue uake te nauai e oho te nauai e rai te uauai nauai
nauai kino nohi ava ava taua kate kete iringa te niu haamatua nauai
kiuokatangi temoko-moko uri kataugi te moko-moko tea kohao kopi-
rieuta moko-moko uri ua moko-moko tea takaia raugi kakae hoki i te
atua. Mohao haruru vai e kahihinga ma te tougakapitia raugi moko-
moko uri moko mol^o tea kohao kopiri e atua mamairi liauaha itu atimo
eae aruarua vori kaliiliiua mo te Tonga kahuhinga ma te Tonga nui
kahinga i tongarou kapitia raugi moko moko uri moko-molto tea pruho
kaualia uri korueiha Hangaroa a Timeo eae e te Raki ete roroe taua
erua aaku manu.

Hakarongo noa i te reo o te moa e vai-vai mahaui ia ure roroi renga
aha iho nei e te ahiue ariikie ouku ika ua kio i varimariariahopue hara
koe e rara a eau i te taura hiku rarerave a hiro kai te teri hepo e tao
koe hoki uapa te iugoa taua ilea ko mumu maranga ugaiatu ko pephu
ko pepetaugi. ko pepetangi taravi tavi. ko pepetangi tava taravi tava
e hakanui koe ki te ehu koe ki te kapua. Tun hitu hare ka more koe
kapai tue.

Mohouakuta, the chief of a powerful clan, when about to make war
to revenge the death of one of his relatives, who had been killed by
treachery, summoned Timo, the builder of fowl-houses, and ordered
him to construct ou the windward side of the house of Techo, the
fisherman, a fowl-house of one hundred cresent-shaped stakes. It was
ordered that of the fowls captured iu tlie war those with long tail-
feathers, aud the white ones, should be reserved and sent to this house
for safe-keeping.

The warriors of the clan assembled promptly at the council-fire with

tteir faces brilliantly painted and wearing their distinctive shell neck-

The solemn ceremonies, attendant upon the declaration of war, were
performed by the assembled braves, in accordance with the ancient
customs handed down by their forefathers. Obeisance was first made
to the sky, each warrior repeating the prayer, " May we be killed in
battle if we neglect to worship the Great Spirit." The ceremoaies
concluded with obeisance to the god of feathers, each warrior wearing
the feather-hat of his clan— Bra Nuku, the god of feathers, whose
costume consists of feathers for the head, feathers for the neck, and
feathers to be waved by the wind. He who brings good luck when
feathers are worn that are tied by a string of hair. He who protects
the yams and potato plantations when feathers are tied upon a stick,
and placed close together between the hills. He who keeps off the evil
spirit when feathers are planted over the burial-places.

The god of feathers, whose wife is Mauana. Manana Take came
from the skies. She once visited the land in the shape of a fish, which
■was captured and given to the king on account of its size and beauty.
Recognizing the divine nature of the fish, the king was thereafter
debarred from swimming in the sea.

(The next hieroglyphics oa the tablet are supposed to have been
■written in some ancient language, the key to which has long ago been
lost. After this unknown section the translation is continued as fol-
lows) :

When the island was first created aud became known to our fore-
fathers, the land was crossed with roads beautifully paved with flat
stones. The stones were laid close together so artistically that no
rough edges were exposed. Coffee-trees were growing close together
along the borders of the road, that met overhead, and the branches
■were laced together like muscles. Heke was the builder of these roads,
and it was he, who sat in the place of honor in the middle where the
roads branched away in every direction. These roads were cunningly
contrived to represent the plan of the web of the gray and black-
pointed spider, and no man could discover the beginning or the end

(Here again are some sections of the tablet written in the characters
that are not understood, after which the following translation is

In that happy land, that beautiful land where Eomaha formerly
lived with his beloved Hangaroa, and where Turaki used to listen to
the voice of the fowl, and feed them with watery food. In that beau-
tiful land that was governed by gods from heaven, and who lived in
the water when it was cold. Where the black and white-pointed
spider would have mounted to heaven, but was prevented by the
bitterness of the cold.

Where is our ancient queen ? It is known tbat slie was transformed
into a fisU that was finally caught in the still waters. A fish that had
to be tied by the rope of Heros to be captured. Away, away, if you
can not name the fish. That lovely fish with the short gills that was
brought for food to our Great King, and was laid upon a dish that
rocked this way and that. The same that afterwards formed the
corner of the stone walk that led to the house of the Great Chief.

(Plates XXXVIII aud XXXIX.)

Atua Matariri ; Ki ai Kiroto, Kia Taporo, Kapu te Poporo.
Ahimahima Marao; Ki ai Kiroto, Takihi Tupufema, Kapu te Kihi-
Aoevai ; Ki ai Kiroto, Kava Kobe Koe Kapu te Koe.
Matua anua; Ki ai Kiroto, Kappii)iri Haitau, Kapu te Miro.
Angingieai; Ki ai Kiroto, Kia Humutoti, Kapu te Maluta.
Hiti ; Ki ai Kiroto, Kia Heta Kapu te Ti.
Atura; Ki ai Kiroto, Katei, Kapu te Monku Uta.
Ahan ; Ki ai Kiroto, Vava, Kapu te Tureme.
Ahekai ; Ki ai Kiroto, Hepeue, Kapu te Mataa.
Viri Koue ; Ki ai Kiroto, Ariugarehe Uruharero, Kapu te Runa.
Atua Metua; Ki ai Kiroto, Kariritunarai, Kapa te Nin.
Atua Metua ; Ki ai Kiroto, Kite Vuhi o Atua, Kapu te Toromiro.
Atua Metua; Ki ai Kiroto, Tapuhavaoatua, Kapu te Moana.
A Heuru ; Ki ai Kiroto, Hetomu, Kapu te Marikurn.
A Taveke ; Ki ai Kiroto, Pouhutuhututerevaimangaro, Kapu te Veke.
A Hahamea; Ki ai Kiroto, Hohio Kapu te Takure.
Aukia Ki ai Kiroto; Moremanga, Kapu te ISTgarava.
Avia Moko; Ki ai Kiroto, Viatea, Kapu te Kena.
Tereheue ; Ki ai Kiroto, Viaraupa, Kapu te Kau))a.
A Heroe; Ki ai Kiroto, Uuhipura, Mapu te Ro.
Tahatoi ; Ki ai Kiroto, Kateapiairiroro, Kapu te To.
Irapupue; Ki ai Kiroto, Irakaka, Kapu te Pia.
Mangeongeo; Ki ai Kiroto, Herakiraki Kapu te Kape.
A Hen ; Ki ai Kiroto Pana Kapu te Hue.
Heinia; Ki ai Kiroto Kairui Kairui-Hakamarni Kapu te Raa.
Huruau ; Ki ai Kiroto Hiuaoio Kapu te Moa.
A Hikna: Ki ai Kiroto Hiuaoioi Kapu te Uruara.
Tingahae: Ki ai Kiroto Parararnhikutea Kapu te Niuki.
A Hikue: Ki ai Kiroto Hiuaoioi Kai)u te Tabraha.

Report of Nattonal Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Report of National Museum, 1889, — Thomson

Plate XXXIX.

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Tikitehatu: Ki ai Kiroto Hibohihokitetara Kapa te Paroko.

Tikitehatu: Ki ai Kiroto Hinapopoia Kapu te Hiuakuhara.

Tikitehatu: Ki ai Kiroto Maea Kapn te Heraherakitotuea.

Tikitehatu : Ki ai Kiroto Ruruatikitehatu Kapu te Teririkatea.

Atimoterae : mea a mura i hiki te alu mo tuna o te ita. luo haugai it
te ariiki.

Takoua : Ki ai Kiroto Tukouo, Kapu te Pooj)oo.

E. Toto te Efi no Kino no naroko no ngaoreno no nga tokutoko

Epuoko te uuika no tupa iti no tupa nui.

Uku Ki ai Kiroto, Karori Kapu te Ngaatu.

Kuhikia Ki ai Kiroto Taurari Kapu to Egaatu.

Kuhikia Ki ai Kiroto Euperoa Kapu to Turi.

Taaria Ki ai Kiroto Taaria, Kapu te Taueehu.

Haiuge Ki ai Kiroto hatukuti, Kapu te Evea.

Pauaroroko Ki ai Kiroto Hakukuti, Kapu te Taerongoveteve.

Hiuitirerire Ki ai Kiroto Kanohotatataporo Kapu te Roporo.

Nuinia a Tangaire Turuhirohero te toto o te o korare.

Kamau te Korare taratara te Korare.

Turuki te Ua Maanau Manavai roa.

Kauuuku raituahea anakihorou eaa e to e tua tanu to tana moko
eaha Uaugai e to e ufl e Kumara.

The origin of inanimate things is believed to be the result of the
marriage of certain gods and goddesses in accordance with the follow-
ing table.

God Atua Matariri and goddess Taporo produced thistle.

God Ahimahima Marao and goddess Takihi Tupufenia produced

God Aoevai and goddess Kava Kohekoe produced medicine.

God Matua anua and goddess Kappipiri Aaitau produced the Miro

God Augingieai and goddess Kia Humutoti produced the paper-mul-
berry tree.

God Hiti and goddess Kia beta produced the tea plant.

God Atura and goddess Katei produced bunch grass.

God Ahen and goddess Vaua produced fine grass.

God Agekai and goddess Hepeue produced obsidian.

God Viri Koue and goddess Ariugarehe Uruharero produced the
morning-glory plant.

God Atna Metua and goddess Kariritunaria produced cocoauuts.

God Atua Metaa and goddess Ki te Vuhi o Atua produced the toro-
miro tree.

God Atua Metua and goddess Tapuhavaoatua produced Hibiscus.

God A Heuru and goddess Hetomu produced the blue leaf plant.

God A Taveke and goddess Pouhutuhututerevaimangaro, produced
the white ash.

God A Hahamea and goddess Hohio produced flies.

God Aukiaand goddess Moremannga produced roaches.

God A Via Moko and goddess Viatea produced boobies.

God Tereheue and goddess Viaraupa produced leaves.

God A Heroe and goddess Unhipura produced ants.

God Tahatoi and goddess Kateapiairiroro produced sugar-cane.

God Irapupue and goddess Irakaka produced arrowroot.

God Mangeongeo and goddess Herakiraki produced yams.

God Ahen and goddess Pana produced calabash.

God Heima and goddess Kairni-hakamarui produced stars.

God Huruan and goddess Hiuaoioi produced fowls.

God A Hikua and goddess Hiuaoioi produced vermilion.

God Tingahae and goddess Pararahikutea produced sharks.

God A Hikue and goddess Hiuaoioi produced porijoise.

God Tikitehatu and goddess Hihohihokiteturu produced rock-fish.

God Tikitehatu and goddess Hiuapopoia produced life.

God Tikitehatu and goddess Maea produced luck.

God Tikitehatu and goddess Euruatikitehatu produced man.

Atimoterae created brook-flsh and established them as the chosen
food of the gods.

God Takoua and goddess Tukouo produced milk-thistle.

E Toto discovered the sweet taste of the jam and made it the prin-
cipal food of the people.

Bpuoko created the delicious banana food for the kings.

God TJku and goddess Karori produced bullrushes.

God Kuhikia and goddess Taurari produced small birds.

God Kuhikia and goddess Euperoa produced sea gulls.

God Taaria and goddess Taaria produced white gulls.

God Haiuge and goddess Hatukuti produced wind.

God Pauaroroko and goddess Hakukuti produced pain.

God Hiuitirerire and goddess Kanohotatataporo produced (ireepiug

Numia a Tangaire Turuhirohero was the founder of all things un-
pleasant and bad smells.

Turuki was the first builder of rock fences and barriers.

Kuanuku created death by drowning, death in warfare, death by
accident, and death by disease.

(Plates XL and XLI.)

1. Eaba to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta uei ?

E tupu tomo a mata mea e rangi ran e tuatea to ran ariiki kete ma-
hua i uta nei.

Aue rato mani rata karata te tuatea, karata te rangi ran karata te

2. Baha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?

B nra e poopoo e koiro e nohoe e to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei.
Aue rato mani rata karata te ura ki kara te poopoo e nehe e riku e
kava-kava atn.

3. Baha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei?

E nehe e riku e kava atua to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei.

Ane rato mani rata karata te nehe karata riku karata rain kava atua.

4. Eaha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?
E a hao nei e kahi e atu e ature.

Ane rato mani rata karata te kahi kaharta ahi rarata te ature ane rato.

5. Kaha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?

E ufi etra e kumaro to ran ariiki mahua i uta nei.

Aue rato karata te u& kumara toa e mahua i uta nei, ane rato maru.

6. Baha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?

B honu e kea e pane te ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei.
Ane rato karata te honu te kea te pane.

7. Eaha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?

E hetu e range e han e na e raa e mahua te ran ariiki kete mahua

i irunga nei.
Ane rato karata te rangi e hon e na e raa e mahua.

8. Eaba te ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?

B anuga nei karata te hehun rangi han na raa mahua.
Ane rato karata te hehuii rangi han na raa mahua.

9. Baha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei?

E ariiki e tapairu to ran ariiki kete i mahua i mua nei.
Ane rato karata to ariiki te tapairu.

10. Baha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei ?

B oi e potupotu e ugarara e hata to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei.
Aue rato karata main rata e oi e potupotu e ugarara e hata to ran
ariiki kete maliua i uta nei.

What power has the Great King on the land ?

He has power to make the plants grow and to change the sky to
different colors.
All hail the power of the Great King who makes us lenient to the

young plants, to admire the skies of differeut colors, aud to beliold tbe
clouds that rise.

Wbat power has the Great King on the laud?

He has the power to create the lobsters, white-bait, eels, ape tish, and
everything in the sea.

All hail thepower of the Great King who gives us the knowledge of
how to catch the lobsters, white-bait, eels, ape-fish, and all marine ani-

What power has the Great King on the laud?

He has the power to produce the ferns, creeping plants, grass, bushes,
and all vegetation.

All hail the power of the Great King who has taught us to love the
ferns, creeping plants, and all green things.

What power has the Great King over the sea?

He has the power to create the mighty fish that swim in the deep

All hail the power of the Great King who has given us the strength
and skill to catch the fish of the mighty deep.

What power has the Great King on the land 1

He has the power to produce the yams, potatoes, aud sugar-cane.

All had the power of the Great King who enables us to use as food
yams, potatoes, aud sugar-cane.

What power has the Great King on the laud ?

He has the power to clothe the turtles in hard shell, the fish with
scales, and protects every living thing.

All hail the power of the Great King who enables us to overcome the
defense of the turtles, fish, and all reptiles.

What power has the Great King in the universe?

He has the power to create the stars, the clouds, the dew, the rain,
the sun, aud the moon.

All hail the power of the Great King who enables us to appreciate
the blessings of the bright stars, the lowering clouds, the gentle dew,
the falling rain, aud the light of the sun and moon.

What power has the Great King.upoii the land?

He has the power to populate the earth, to create both kings aud

All hail the power of the Great King who has created the human
beings, given authority to kings, and created loyal subjects.

What power has tbe Great King upon the land ?

He has the power to create maggots, flies, worms, fleas, and all
creeping and flying insects.

All hail the power of the Great King who enables us to withstand
the attacks of the maggots, tlies, worms, fleas, and all manner of insects.

What power has the Great King 1

All hail the unlimited power of the Great King.

Report of National Museum, 1889, — Thomson,

Plate XL.

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Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson.

Plate XLI.

(Plates XLII and XLIII.)

Ka Phi uiga — te ki ati —
Auwe te poki, e —
Ite rnaki tana — Rii te hiva iua.
Ka ilii uiga — uiai.

Ka ihi uiga — te ki ati —
Auwe te poki, e —
Ite iiiaki tana — Hoiiiti ina.
Ka ihi uiga — moa mai.

Ha iiiin, — poki — e — ;

Ta auwe rai — e;
Viviri rai, iaage — o;

I — ruga — i ;

Te papare Iiinna
Viviri rai — iuage — o!

Haki— e!
Avaliinua — ki tagu ata.

Auwe poki — e!
Ava rai —
Ava mata — Iua hiva

Auwe poki — o !
Ite renia o parapa moni

Auwe poki — e!

This is an old song, supposed to have descended from the time the
first inhabitants arrived on the island. The father is believed to mourn
for his child left in that eastern laud, from which tradition states the
people migrated.

The sail of my daughter.

Never broken by the force of foreign clans !
The sail of my daughter.

Unbroken by the conspiracy of Honiti !
Ever victori/)us in all her fights

She could not be enticed to drink poison waters
In the cup of obsidian glass.

Can my sorrow ever be appeased
While we are divided by the mighty seas!

Oh my daughter, oh my daughter !
It is a vast and watery road

Over which I look toward the horizon,
My daughter, oh my daughter!

I'll swim over the deep to meet you,
My daughter, oh my daughter!

" Ate-a-renga-liolan Hi polieraa"

(Plates XLIV and XLV.)

Ka tagi, Renga-a-manu — hakaopa;

Cliiu ruuaraiue a ita mutua.
Ka ketu te nairo hihi — O te hoa !

Eaha ton tiena — e te hoa — e !

Ita haga ta poapatu — O te hoa !

Kahii te riva foraui — O te hoa — e !
Auwe ka tagi ati — u — a — it.i iti.

Eha ton tiena — e ta hoa — e.

Ta hi tiena ita have.
Horoaita have.
Horoa moni e fahiti ;

Ita ori miro ;

Aua pill atu ;

Ana piri atu ;

Ana taga atn .

Who is sorrowing? It is Renga-a-raauu Hakopa!

A red branch descended from her father.

Open thine eyelids, my true love.

Where is your brother, my love ?

At the feast iu the Bay of Salutation

We "will meet under the feathers of your clan.

She has long been yearuiug after you.

Send your brother as a mediator of love between us,

Your brother who is now at the house of my father.

O, where is the messenger of love between us ?

When the feast of drift-wood is commemorated

There we will meet in loving embrace.

The island was discovered by King Hotu-Matua, who came from the
land iu the direction of the rising sun, with two large double Cfinoes
and three hundred chosen followers. They brought with tlieni pota-
-toes, yams, bananas, tobacco, sugar-cane, and the seeds of various
plants, including the paper mulberry and the toroioiro trees. The first
landing was made on the islet of Motu Nui, on the north coast, and
there the first food was cooked that had been tasted for one hundred
and twenty days. The next day the queen started in one of the canoes
to explore the coast to the northwest, while the other canoe, in charge of
the king, rounded the island to the southeast. At Auekena Bay the

Report of National Museum, , 889,-Thomson.

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Report of National Museum, 1889.— Tho

Plate XLIII.

Report of National Museum, 1889.— Thomson.

Plate XLIV.

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Plate XLV.

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Plate XLVI.

Report of Nalional Museum, 1689— Thorr

Plate XLVII.

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Report of National Museum, 1£

Plate XLIX.

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two caooes met aud, attracted by the smooth sand-beach, Hotu-Matua
landed and named the island " Te-pito te-henua " or " the navel of the
deep." The queen landed, and immediately afterwards, gave birth to a
hoy, who was named Taamae-Keke. The landing place was named
Anekena in honor of the month of August, in which the island was dis-
covered. All the plants landed from the canoes were appropriated for
seed, and the people immediately began the cultivation of the ground.
For the first three months they subsisted entirely upoa fish, turtle,
and the nuts of a creeping-plant found growing along the ground,
which was named " moki-oo-ne." After the lapse of a number of
unrecorded years, daring which the island had been made to produce
an abundance of food, aud the people had increased and multiplied in
numbers, Hotu-Matua at an advanced age was stricken with a mortal
illness. Before his end drew near, the chief men were summoned to
meet in council. The king nominated his eldest son as his successor
(Tuumae-Heke), and it was ordained that the descent of the kings
should always be through the eldest son. This important matter having
been settled, the island was divided up into districts and portioned out to
the children of the king as follows : Tl> Tuumae-Heke, the eldest, were
given the royal establishment aud lands extending from Anekena to
the northwest as far as Mounga Tea-tea. To Meru, the second sou, were
given the lauds between Anekena aud Hanga-roa. To Marama, the
third son, were given the lands between Akahanga and Vinapu. The
land lying to the northward and westward of Mounga Tea-tea was the
portion of the fourth son, Eaa, aud was called Hanga-Toe. To the
fifth son, Korona-rouga, were allotted the lands between Anekena and
the crater of Rana-Eoraku. To the sixth and the lastson were given the
lands on the east side of the island. His name was Hotu-iti.

The tradition here goes back before the advent of the people on the
island, and states that Hotu-Matua aud his followers came from a group
of islands lying towards the rising sun, and the name of the land was
Marae-toe-hau, the literal meaning of which is " the burial place." lu
this land, the climate was so intensely hot that the people sometimes
died from the effects of the heat, and at certain seasons plants and
growing things were scorched and shriveled up by the burning sun.

The circumstances that led to the migration are related as follows:
Hotu-Matua succeeded his father, who was a powerful chief, but his
reign in the land of his birth, owing to a combination of circumstances
over which he had no control, was limited to a very few years. His
brother, Machaa, fell in love with a maiden famed for her beauty and
grace, but a rival appeared upon the sceiie in the person of Oroi, the
powerful chief of a neighboring clan. After the manner of the sex in
all ages and climes, this dusky beauty trifled with the affections of her
suitors and proved fickle-minded. When pressed to make a choice
between the two, she announced that she would marry Oroi, provided
he would prove his love by making a pilgrimage around the island,

aud it was specified that lie slioald walk coutinually witlioufc stopping
to eat, or to rest by day or night, until the tour of the island was
completed. Eetaiuers were selected to carry food to be eaten on the
route, and Oroi started upon his journey, accompanied for the first few-
miles by his affianced bride, who promised upon parting, to permit her
thoughts to dwell upon nothing but him until his return. The incon-
stant female eloped with her other lover, Machaa, on the same evening.
Oroi did not hear this news until he had arrived at the farther end of
the island; then he returned directly to his home, where he prepared a
great feast to which he summoned all the warriors of his clan. The
indignity that had been put upon him was related, aud all present
registered a vow that they would never rest until Hotu-Matua aud his
entire family had been put to death.

It appears that Machaa was a man of prudence, and seeing that a
desperate conflict was imminent, he embarked with six chosen follow-
ers and his bride, in a large double canoe, and with plenty of provisions
sailed in the night for some more genial clime. The great spiiit
''Meke-Meke" is supposed to have appeared to him and made it known
that a large uuiuhabited island could be found liy steering towards the
setting sun. The land was sighted after they had been out two months,
aud the canoe was beached on the south side of the island. On the
second day after their arrival they found a turtle on the beach near
Auekena, and one of the men was killed by a blow of its flipper in try-
ing to turn it over. Two months after they had landed on the island,
the two canoes with Hotu-Matua and his followers, three hundred in
number, arrived.

The desertion of Machaa did not appease the wrath of Oroi, and war
to the death was carried on until Hotu-Matua, after being defeated in
three great battles, was driven to the last extremity. Discouraged by
his misfortune, and convinced that his ultimate capture and death were
certain, he determined to fiee from the island of Marae-toe-hau, aud
accordingly had two large canoes, 90 feet ]ong and 6 feet deep, provis-
ioned and xirepared for a long voyage. In the night, and on the eve of
another battle, they sailed away, with the understanding that the set-
ting sun was to be their compass.

It appears that the intended flight of Hotu-Matua was discovered by
Oroi at the last moment, aud that energetic individual smuggled him-
self on board of one of the canoes, disguised as a servant. After ar-
riving upon the island, he hid himself among the rocks at Orougo, and
continued to seek his revenge by murdering every unprotected person
who came in his way. This interesting state of affairs continued for
several years, but Oroi was finally captured in a net thrown by Hotu-
Matua aud was pounded to death. The tradition continues by a sudden
jump into the following extraordinary condition of affairs: Many years
after the death of Hotu-Matua, the island was about equally div, Jed
between his descendaats and the " long-eared race," aud between tuem

a deadly feud raged. Loug and bloody wars were kept up, and great
distress prevailed on account of the destruction and neglect of the crops.
This unsatisfactory state of affairs was brought to an end, after many
years' lighting, by a desperate battle, in which the "loug ears" had
planned the utter annihilation of their enemies. A long and deep ditch
was dug across Hoto iti and covered with brush-wood, and int;0 this the
"long ears" arranged to drive their enemies, when the brush-wood
was to be set on fire and every man exterminated. The trap was found
out, and the plan circumvented by opening the battle prematurely and
in the night. The "long ears" were driven into the ditch they had
built, and murdered to a man.

After the defeat and utter annihilation of the "long-eared race,"
the tradition goes on to state that peace reigned on the island, and the
people increased iu numbers and prosperity. In the course of time
dissensions arose between the different families or claus, which led to
opeu hostilities. Kaina, the chief of the Hotu-iti clan, and a descend-
ant of the sixth son of the first king, proved himself a valiant warrior,
and his possessions were increased by encroachments npon the domain
of his neighbors. He died and was succeeded by his son, Huriavai,
who inaugurated his introduction into the ofSce by a three days' en-
gagement, in which the chiefs of two neighboring claus were killed.
Several clans now combined forces, and after desperate fightiug the
Hotu-iti people were defeated, half of them taking refuge in a cave on
the face of the cliff on the northeast side of the island, and the rest
on the islet of Marotiri.

The besieged parties were watched night and day by their vigilant
enemies, and were finally reduced to the verge of starvation. A chief,
named Poya, had just finished a large double canoe at Hanga-roa,
which he called Tuapoi. This was dragged across the island and
launched at Anahava. Every day this canoe, filled with fighting men,
cruised around the islet of Maroiri, making attacks upon the besieged
Hotu-iti people whenever opportunity offered. As the peoi)le were
reduced by privations, the number of prisoners captured increased day
by day. The captives were taken to a place called Hangawi-aihi-
toke-rau and portioned out to the different clans, and were immediately
cooked and eaten. This is said to be the origin of cannibalism on the
island, and is supposed to have been prompted by revenge.

Cannibalism, however, proved a double-pointed sword that caused
dissensions iu the ranks, and finally resulted in the liberation of a part
of the besieged people. A chief named Oho-taka-tore happened to be
absent upon one occasion, and upon his retui^u found the bodies had all
been distributed and his claims completely ignored. He demanded
his share of the spoils, and was informed that "a man who sleeps late
in the morning can not expect to see the sun rise." Feeling degraded
by the slight, Oho-taka-tore turned his feather-hat hind-side before, to
H. Mis. 224, pt. 2 34

indicate that the alliance was broken, and with his men marched off
the field.

On the roail he stopped at Vaka-piko, at the house of his daughter-
inlaw, to inquire after his son. The " lady" received him with demon-
strations of respect, and while listeniug to the story of his wrongs,
stood behind him aud picked fleas out of his head, which, in accord-
ance with the native customs, was the most delicate compliment that
one individual could show another.

Upon the return of her husband, whose name was Moa, the woman
related the particulars of the visit of his father. Moa said nothing
about the state of his feelings, but arose at sunrise aud dug up a lot
of potatoes and yams, wliicli he baked in an oven. Towards evening
he brought out his fish-net and employed himself in arranging the
floats and sinkers. After dark he wrapped up his ])otatoes and yams
in sugar cane aud leaves, shouldered his net, and started off, after in-
forming his wife that he was going fishing. He hid his net in the
rocks at Kahiherea and then went to Mounga-tea-tea, where a palm tree
was growing, from which he cut and trimmed eight large branches.
At Ngana Moa he found the camp of the men who guarded the cliff over-
looking the cave where the Hotu-iti people were imprisoned, so he
turned and went down by the sea-shore. The men stationed there to
guard the approach were all asleep, and Moa managed by great cau-
tion to pass them without being discovered. Having arrived near the
cave he was challenged, and replied, " I am Moa, who seeks revenge
while helping you." One of the besieged men, named Tokihai, de-
scended from the cave and received the grip of friendship by being
clasped around the belly. Moa took his food into the cave and dis-
tributed it among the thirty famished and thoroughly discouraged
men who remained alive.

While the great canoe was making its predatory excursions to the
islet, the combined forces had not neglected the people who had taken
refuge in the cave. Every day a large net filled with men was lowered
from the top of the cliff, and from it stones were hurled into the cave,
killing and maiming the defenseless people. Moa produced his palm
branches and instructed his friends how to make hooks from pieces of
human bone, which could be fastened to the poles and used as grapples.

Before daylight everything was in readiness, and when the net was
lowered abreast of the opening, it was caught by the hooks and drawn
in the cave, and the men in it dispatched almost without resistance.
The prisoners got into the net and were hoisted to the top, where by rea-
son of the surprise and the fierceness of their fighting their enemies
were defeated and put to flight.

It happened that on the night of Moa's visit to the cave, Huriarai and
a man named Vaha, who were with the party on the small island of Ma-
rori, became desperate from hunger and made an effort to capture one
of the men guarding the sea-beach. The sentry saw one of the men

swimming towards Lim ; it proved to be the chief Huriarai, who was so
much exhausted that lie was clubbed to death without making much
resistance. Vaha, however, landed some distance off, and creeping upon
the sentry killed him while he was bending over the body of his victim.
Vahahastily buried the body of his chief among the rocks and taking
his victim upon his back swam back to his companions on the islet. The
people there were without means of making a fire and the body had to
be eaten raw. In the morning, when they saw the escape of their com-
rades from the cave and the desperate fighting on the cliff, they all swam
ashore and joined forces.

The traditions, from this point, are a record of tribal wars, abounding
in feats of personal braverj' and extraordinary occurrences, bat of little
value to the history of the island. Tlie discovery of the island by Hotu-
Matua and his band of tliree hundred, together with the landing already
referred to, is probably correct and seems natural enough down to the
division of the land and the death of the first king. The wars and
causes that led to the migration of the people from that unknown land,
called Marae-toe-hau, are no doubt based upon a foundation of facts.
There is no good reason for doubting the description of the climate of
their formerhome, which would, if accepted, locate it somewhere about
the equator, or at all events in the tropics. The heat could not be the
effect of volcanic action, or their legends would not state that the crops
were burned up by the sun at certain seasons.

The improbable, not to say impossible, part of the story comes in,
where Machaa steals away and lands upon the same island which his
brother's party reach two months later, by simply steering towards the
setting sun. There is not one chance in a million, that two canoes could
sail for thousands of miles, steering by such an uncertain and indefinite
course, and strike the same little island. The tradition states that Ho-
tu-Matua found the island uninhabited, and immediately contradicts
this, by the ridiculous story of his brother and his followers having been
there two months. It is not unlikely that the natives, anxious to main-
tain the credit of the discovery of the island, attempt to account for
the presence of an earlier people in this way. This might account for
the killing of one of Machaa's men by the turtle, for it has no possible
bearing upon the story, beyond the fact that it would account for Ho-
tu-Matua finding a tomb or burial-place on the beach at Anekena, when
lie first landed.

The story of Oroi disguising himself as a servant and sailing for
months in an open canoe, filled with naked savages, without his identity
being discovered, is too absurd to be considered, beyond ascribing an
origin to the enemy or enemies who murdered Hotu-Matua's people, and
whose stronghold was on the rocky cliffs near Orongo. One pecaliar
feature of the tradition is the allusion to the fighting-net, which must
have been something after the fashion of those used in old Roman times.
These nets are represented to have been square and weighted at the

corners with stoues. A lanyard was fastened to the center, and the net
was thrown over an antagonist, who was beaten to death while en-
tangled in its meshes. It is worthy of remark that nothing of this sort
has been discovered among the Polynesians or their contemporaries on
the coast of America.

The suddenness with which the tradition jumps into the warfare be-
tween the descendants of the first king and the "long eared race" is
startling, because no previous reference has been made to such a race on
the island. It is hardly possible that the " long-ears " were descended
from jjeople who landed with them on the island, for those that came
with Hotu-Matua were of the same clan, and it is fair to presume that
the same customs obtained among them all. Besides, the legends all
make a distinction between the "long-eared" race and the descendants
of the first king. The "long-ears" appear to have been a power in the
land at an early period in the history of the island, though they were
eventually defeated and exterminated by the others.

It is possible that there has been more than one migration of people
to the island, and that their traditions have been mingled together, but
there can be no reasonable doubt about the progenitors of the pres-
ent islanders being of the Malayo-Polynesian stock. It is difficult to
account for the statement, so frequently repeated throughout the legends,
that Hotu-Matua came from the eastward and discovered the laud by
steering towards the setting sun, because the chart shows no islands in
that direction which would answer the description of " Marae-toe-hau."

The implements of warfare brought to the island by King Hotu-
iVIatua and his followers were few in number, and in the course of time
became broken, lost, or destroyed. The clans wore continually at war
with each other, but from the want of proper weapons the most desper-
ate encounters resulted in little loss of life. Spears were improvised
with heacls made of the sharp edges of the calabash, but they proved in-
efficient weapons and did little execution. During the reign of Atura-
ugi, the sixth king, a man living near the crater of the Eaua Kau, while
returning to his home after sundown from Temanevai, where he and his
companions had been engaged in a useless struggle, stepped in the
darkness upon a sharp stone that cut his foot like a knife. lie carried
the stone home with him, and in the morning found it to be black vol-
canic glass, which upon being broken showed vitreous edges such as
had cut his foot. Believing he had discovered an effective material for
the manufacture of spear-heads, he substituted the obsidian for the
calabash points and went forth to meet his enemies. The new weapon
proved more puissant than he had hoped for, and havoc was created in
the ranks of his opponents. Armed with spearheads obtained from
the obsidian mountain Orito, the discoverer and his clau swept every-
thing before them until the new material became known to all the

people. Since the time of this discovery the encounters of the island-
ers are characterized as more sanguinary.

In the time of Atua Ure Rangi, the seventeenth king, the image-
makers were exempt from all other kinds of work, and the fishermen
were taxed for their chief support. The fish-hooks in use were made of
stone, so hard that many months of chi])ping- and grinding were re-
quired to fashion one fit for service, and the most perfect hooks, even
in the hands of expert fishermen, permitted the escape of a large pro-
portion of the fish. A youth named Urevaiaus, who was descended
from a long line of fishermen, living at HangaPico, became prominent
as one of the most skillful fishermen on the island. His outfit con-
tained hooks bequeathed to him by his forefathers, but he became
discouraged by the want of success which he thought his labors de-
manded, and much time was devoted to a consideration of the subject.
One day, after a number of large and choice fish had escaped from his
hooks, he determined to spend the entire night in the worship of the
god Mea Kahi. About midnight, while he was still at his devotions,
the spirit of an ancient fisherman named Tirakoka appeared, and made
known the fact that his want of success was due to the inefficiency of
the hooks. The spirit directed him to go to the cave in which his
father's remains had been interred, and secure a piece of the thigh-
bone, out of which a proper hook might be constructed. Urevaiaus
became so much frightened by his interview with the spirit, that he
failed to remember fully all the instructions that had been given, but he
went to the cave the next day and secured the thigh-bone of his pater-
nal parent. For many days he went out in his canoe regularly, but in-
stead of fishing, his entire attention was devoted to the manufacture of
an improved hook. During this j)eriod his boat returned empty every
evening, and his want of success excited the open ridicule of his com-
panions and the concern of his friends, but he persevered until he had
fashioned a bone-hook with barbed point.

When ready to test his new invention, a place was selected at a dis-
tance from his companions, and his boat was quickly filled with the finest
fish. The extraordinary success of the young fisherman, in time excited
the envy and jealousy of his companions, and his persistent refusal of
all inducements to part with the secret led to a serious quarrel and
bitter enmity. A sudden attack was finally planned upon Urevaiaus
while at work upon the fishing-grounds; in the effort to preserve his
secret the youth lost his life, but the new form of hooks was found in
his boat and the invention became known to the fraternity.

Hotu-Matua, driven from his kingdom to the eastward by the rebell-
ion of his subjects, landed with a chosen band of followers at Easter

Islands, in the month of August
fathoms loug ami 1 fathom deep.

Pirst. HotuMatua.
Second. Tuumaelieke.
Tliird. Nuku.
Fonrtli, Mira.
Fifth. Hinarirn.
Sixth. Atliraugi.
Seventh. Raa.
Eighth. Ataranga.
Ninth. Hakapuna.
Tenth. Oihu.
Eleventh. Ruhoi.
Twelfth. Tukanga te Mamaru.
Thirteenth. Takahita.
Fourteenth. Oiiaraa.
Fifteenth. Koroharua.
Sixteenth. Mahuta Ariiki.*
Seventeenth. Atna Ure Raugi.
Eighteenth. Teriri Turkura.
Nineteenth. Korua-Rougo.
Twentieth. Tiki-Tehatn.
Twenty-first. Urukenu.
Twenty-second. Ternruatilii te Hatu.
Twenty-third. NauTaMahiki.
Twenty-fourth. Terika Tea.
Twenty-fifth. Teria Katitahito.
Twenty-sixth. Kotepu Ite Toki.
Twenty-seventh. Koto Hiti Ruauea.
Twetty-eighth. Turna Ki Keua.
Twenty-ninth. Tuterkimanara.

(Aneliena), in two canoes, each 15

Thirtieth. Kote Kura Tahoua.
Thirty-first. Taoraha Kaihahauga.
Thirty-second. Tukuma.
Thirty-third. Tekahui te Hunga.
Thirty-fourth. Tetun Hunga Nni.
Thirty-fifth. Tetun Hunga Roa.
Thirty-sixth. Tetu Hunga Mare Kapeau.t
Thirty-seventh. Toati Rangi Hahe.t
Thirty-eighth. Tagaroa Tatarara.
Thirty-ninth. Hariui Koro.
Fortieth. Puuahako.
Forty-first. Puna Ate Tnu.
Forty-secoud. Puna Kai te Vaua.
Forty-third. Teriri Katea.
Forty-fourth. Haumoana.
Forty-fifth. Tupaarii Ki.
Forty-sixth. M.ahiki Tapuakiti.
Forty-seventh. Tuu Koiho.
Forty-eighth. Anekena.
Forty-ninth. Nui Tupahotu.
Fiftieth. Re Kauu.
Fifty-first. Terava Rara.
Fifty-second. Tehitehuke.
Fifty-third. Terahai.
Fifty-fourth. Kaimokoi.
Fifty-filth. Ngaara.
• Fifty-sixth. Kainaakoi Iti.
Fifty-seventh. Maurata.

ivlaurata, the last king, only reigned three years. He was carried
away by the Peruvians iu 18G4, and it is supposed to have died in the
guano mines of the Ohiuchi Islands.

Wooden image.
niiro wood, with

Wooden image.
miro wood, with
sharply defined.

Wooden image.
miro wood, with

These figures
shipped, though
spirits. Similar

— Called Moai Tangata. Male figure made of toro-

eyes of bone and obsidian. (Plate L, fig. 1.)

— Called Moai Kva-kva. Male figure made of toro-

eyes of bone and obsidian, and breast-bone and ribs

(Plate L, fig. 2.)

— Called Moai Papaa. Female figure made of toro-

eyes of bone and obsidian. (Plate L, fig. 3.)

have been called household gods, and were never wor-

they were regarded as the representations of certain

figures were made to represent deceased chiefs and

* Mahuta Ariiki had a eon named Tuu-Koiho, who made the first stone image ou
the Island. This son died before his father.

t These two kings reigued at the same time. The son rebelled against his father,
and finally killed him.

Report of National Museum, 1 889, — Thomson.

Plate L.

O D tH

r-H-; III

E E

Report of National Museum, 18

Plate LI.

Stone Gods, Bulrush Wallet, etc

Figs. 1, 4, fi, 6. Stone Gods. ICM. No.s. I'JSrTO-iairr.S, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. C'ollectt'd by Pay-'r W. J. Tlinni.son, U. S. N.)
Fig. 3. Bulrush Wallet. (Cat. No. r»l7(iO, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected liy Paymaster W

J. Thomson, U. S. N.)
Fig. 3. Knife. (Cat. No. 1J;)7:K, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected by Paymaster W. J Tbunison

U. S. N.) '" '

Fig. 7. TAPoA-fLoTH. (Cat, No. la<173!l, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected by Paymaster W J

Tbomsou, U. S. N. 1

Report of National Museum, 1 889— Thomson.

Plate LII.

Wooden Clubs and Paddle.

Figs. 1, 2, Wooden Clfbs. (Cat. No. Ijil761, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected by Paymaster W.

.T. Thomson, U. S. N.)
Fig. 3. Paddle, (Cat. No. 129749, II. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected hy Paymaster W. J. Thomson-
U. S. N.)

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thomson.

Plate Llll.

-■r•i.»iS8^^> , *«

o =:
Da P_:

i^ Eh

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Thcmson.

Plate LIV.

persons of note, and were given a place of honor at feasts and cere-

Stone image. — Called Moai Maea. Male figure; held in the same esti-
mation as those made of wood. (Plate LI, iig. 1.)

Wooden clubs. — Called Ua. Made of toromiro wood, G feet long, the
point slightly widened and the handle ornamented with a bifronted
head with eyes of bone and obsidian. These clubs were only used as
batons of of3ace by the chiefs, and the handle was supposed to represent
the effigy of the owner. (Plate LII, figs. 1 and 2.)

Wooden club. — Called Poa. Made of heavy wood, about 30 inches
long, gradually widened from the handle to a broad blade, rounded
at the end. These were used for fighting and were handled with great

Wooden club. — Called Ao. Made of light wood, used as wands in
dancing. Tlie flattened ends are sometimes ornamented with heads
supposed to represent females noted for skill and grace in this accom-
plishment. (Plate LIU, figs. 1 and 2.)

Wooden club. — Called Ariiki. Made of toro-miro wood, the end
being turned at right angles from the short handle. The club is orna-
mented all over with heads. This was the baton of the king and used
only by him. Obtained with much difficulty and expense.

Calabash. — Called Hue Vai. Opened at the small end only, used as
a water vessel, and for domestic purposes.

Calabash.— CaUed Epu Moa. Known as the fowl gourd, and a super-
stition ascribes a beneficial influence over the chickens fed and watered
from it.

Calabash — Called Tata. Used chiefly in boats for bailing.

Calabash. — Very old specimen obtained from an ancient tomb,
covered with hieroglyphics similar to those found on the incised tab-
lets. These calabashes grow in profusion on the island, but are worthy
of note on account of the prominent place they occupy in the traditions,
and because the seed was introduced by the original settlers.

Fish-net. — Called Kupenga Maito. This form of net has been in use
from an early period, and is made from the fiber of wild hemp. Nets
of different sizes nsed in fishing, as well as those for fighting and other
purposes, were of similar material and mesh. (Plate XIII.)

Feather hat. — Called Yana-vana. Head-dress made of black and
green variegated feathers, used only in delivering a challenge to com-
bat for revenge. (Plate LIV, fig. 1.)

Feather hat. — Called flan Kura-kura. Small head-dress of brown or
red feathers worn by soldiers in time of wnv. (Plate LIV, fig. 2.)

Feather hat.— Galled Han Pan-ten-ki. Head-dress of long, black,
green, and variegated feathers worn by dancing-peo:)le. (Plate LIV,
fig. 3.)

Featherhat.— Galled Han Tara. Small head-dress of trimmed feath-

ers ornameTited by long tail feathers bebind ; used bj' chiefs on occa-
sions of ceremony, (Plate LIV, flg. 4.)

Feather hat. — Called Han Vaero. Head-dress used iu dancing, and
formerly at marriage feasts. (Plate LV, fig. 1.)

Feather hat. — Called Han Hiehie. Large and heavy headdress
made of black feathers worn by chiefs as insignia of office. These
liats are made of chicken feathers secured by the quill ends to a founda-
tion of knitted hemp, intended to fit the head closely. They are fre-
quently referred to in the traditions. (Plate LV, fig. 2.)

Wallet. — Called Kate. Made from bullrushes taken from the crater
of RanaKau. (Plate LI, fig. 2.)

Mat. — Called Moenga. Made of bullrushes and used for sleeping

Obsidian spear-points. — Plate LVI. — Large collection showing the nine
classes into which they are divided by the natives. Fig. 1, narrow leaf-
shaped spearhead, called Mataa Nutakuku. Fig. 2, wide round-pointed
spear-head, called Mataa Eei-pure-pure rova. Fig. 3, narrow and long-
])ointed spearhead, called Mataa Neho-mango. Fig. 4, narrow spade-
shaped spear-head, called Mafaa Hikutiveva. Fig. 5, broad straight-
edged spear-head, called Mataa-hae. Fig. 6, smooth round-edged spear-
head, called Mataa Aro-kiri. Fig. 7, broad fan-shaped spearhead,
called Mataa Nutu-kuku. Fig. 8, concave and convex sided spear-head,
called Mataa Roa. Fig. 9, long sharji, irregular pointed spear head,
called Mataa Hai-haerve. These spearheads were fastened to poles
about 8 feet long, by lashings of hemp, and formed the chief weapon
used by the natives in their frequent strifes. They were thrown to
a distance, as well as a thrusting weapon, much after the manner in
which the Zulus use their assagais. The volcanic glass of which
the points were made, crops out at many places on the island, but was
chiefly obtained at the obsidian mountain of Orito. Spear-heads of
different shapes and sizes were dependent upon iudividual taste and
skill. The best samples in the collection were purchased from Mr. Sal-
mon ; others were found in the tombs and burial-places; and some were
picked up on the old battle-grounds.

Fetish-board. — Called Timoika. Broad, flat paddle made of whale-
bone, 30 inches long and 14 inches wide. This wand is used in working
a charm against an enemy. The injured individual wliile performing a
sort of convulsive dance, makes mystic movements with the paddle,
meanwhile muttering incantations in a monotonous tone. The result is
believed to be the speedy death of the person against whom the fetish
is invoked. (Plate LllI, fig. 3.)

Potato /e^is/t.— Called IJapa. Small, light paddle double bladed,
about 24 inches long, painted light red in color. It was used with ap-
propriate ceremonies at times when the potato crop was in danger from
insects or drought, and was believed to ward off and guard against evil
spirits. (Plate Llll, flg. 4.)

Report of National Museum, 1 889.— Tho,

Plate LV.

Report of National Museum, 1889. — Thomson.

Plate LVI.

Obsidian Spear-heads.
(Cat. Nijs. 129732-120730, U. S. N. M. Easter Islaod. Collected by Paymaster W. J. Thomsou, U. S. N.)

Report of National Museum, 1889.— Thomson.

Plate LVII.

o ._^

■S H

O ffl

O ^

Report of National Museum, 1889— Thomson.

Plate LVIII.

Fig. 1. Fi.=;nHooK of Hcman Bone. (Cat. No. laflTSfi, U. S. N. M. Eaister Island. Collected by
Paymaster W. J. Thomson, U. R. N.)

Fig. 2. Fishhook OF HfMAN Bone. (Cat. No. 120737, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected by-
Paymaster W. J. Thomson, U. S. N.)

Fig. 3. Fishhook op Stone.

Stone adzes. — Called Toki. The collection comprises twenty-five dif-
ferent sizes, called by distinctive names which signify the use for which
they are designed. Tools of this class were always used in a wooden
handle. (Plate LVII.)

Stone Jcnife. — Called Hoe. Ground down to a knife-blade with a
point and cutting edge, used principally for fashioning the eyes and
faces of the images. (Plate LI, fig. 3.)

Axhandles. — Miro Toki. Hard-wood, 'with natural joint, used for
holding stone implements. (Plate LVII.)

Fish god. — Called Mea Ika. This rough, ill-shaped stone was one of
the objects really worshipped by the natives. Some of them bear evi-
dences of tool marks, but it does not appear that any effort was made to
carve them into shape or decorate them. These gods were never com-
mon, and were possessed by communities or clans, and not by individ-
uals. The legends claim that they were all brought to the island by
Hotu "Matua and the first settlers. (Plate LI, fig. 4.)

Bonito god. — Called Mea Kahi. A stone with apparently no distin-
guishing characteristics, and nothing to merit the profound religious
homage paid to it. It is not clear why the bonito should have the dis-
tinction of a separate god from the other fish, unless it be for thereasou
that it appears in great numbers in these waters, and has always been
highly esteemed as an article of food. Fish always constituted an im-
portant diet with the natives, and the abundance in which they were
found was ascribed to the faithful and constant adoration of these stone
gods. (Plate LT, fig. 5,)

Fold god. — Called Mea Moa. A beach pebble with slight traces of
tool-marks, but it might readily be passed among other stones without
attracting attention. To the fowl god is ascribed the custody of chick-
ens, and its beneficial influence was secured by being placed under a
setting hen for a short time before the eggs were hatched. (Plate LI,
fig. 6.)

Stone Fish Hook. — Called Mugai Kihi. These primitive hooks, now
very rare on the island, wore made of the hardest rock to be obtained,
and were ground into shape by long and constant rubbing. (Plate
LVIII, fig. 3.)

Bone fish hoohs. — Called Mugai Iri. In accordance with an ancient
sfiperstition. these hooks were manufactured from the thigh-bones of
deceased fishermen. The curve was fashioned with a small barb which
prevented the escape of the fish. The form is so perfectly adapted to
the purpose that the natives still use their old bone hooks in preference
to those of European make. A fish-hook of similar design was used
by the Indians of Santa Cruz Island. (Plate LVIII, figs. 1 and 2.)

Incised tablets. — Called Hokau Eongo Rongo. Two specimens in ex-
cellent state of preservation, showing the hieroglyphics used in the
written language. (Plates XXXVIII-XLL)

Double paddle. — Called Mata Kao-kao. Made of heavy wood, bal-

anced by wide blades ornamented with outlined faces. Used iu the
ancient canoes in a similar manner to that practiced by the Indians of
America. (Plate LII, fig. 3.)

Ancient scull oars — Called Mata Kao. Angular float of peculiar
shape and unique design attached to a long handle. Used for steering
and sculling very large canoes. Very old and highly prized by the
islanders as the only specimen of the scull-oar used by their ancestors.
(Plate LIX.)

• Human slcttlls. -^GaWed Puoko Iri. An examination of these skulls
shows very little difference between the crania of the present people and
those found in the most ancient tombs. Three specimens obtained from
the King's platform have hieroglyphics engraved upon them, which sig-
nify the clan to which they belonged. (Plate L.)

Native cloth. — Called Hami Nua. Made of the inner bark of the hi-
biscus and paper-mulberry trees. The manufacture of the " tappa " has
now ceased altogether. (Plate LI, fig. 7.)

Tattooing implements. — Called Ta Kona. Tools used for puncturing
the skin. Made of bird bones.

Needles. — Called Iri. Both bone and wooden needles used for sewing
tappa cloth, and other varieties for knitting mesbes of nets. (Plate
LX, fig. 1.)

Fetish stones. — Called Atua Mangaro. A collection obtained by dig-
ging beneath the doorposts of the ancient dwellings. The majority are
simply beach pepples; others have been formed by rubbing; and one is a
triangular-shaped stone with a face outlined upon it. These were placed
beneath the houses, with much ceremony, and were supposed to ward
off evil influences. (Plate LX, fig. 2.)

Neclc ornaments. — Called Hoko ISTgao. Carved wood in fanciful de-
signs worn during the dance.

Pigments. — Called Penetuli. l^Tatural j^aints used by being ground
down in the heated juice of the sugar cane.

Frescoed slabs. — Taken from the inner walls and ceilings of the stone
houses at Orougo. (Plate XXIII.)

Fetish stones. — Buried under the corner-stones of the houses.

The most ancient monuments of Polynesia are the lithic and mega-
lithic remains, coincident in style and character with the Druidical
circles of Europe, and the exact counterpart of those of Stonehenge and
Carnac iu Brittany. These earlier eflbrts of the human art are invaria-
bly the remains of temples, places of worship, or of edifices dedicated
in some way to the religion and superstitions of extinct generations,
whose graves cover every island and reef. The most numerous, and
perhaps the most ancient structures, are quadrangular in shape, and
are composed of loose lava stones, forming a wall of great firmness and '
strength. These temples frequently exceed 100 feet in length, with a

Report of National Museum, 1 889,— Thomson.

Plate LIX.

Ancient Scull-oars.
(Cat. No. 129746, U. S N. M. Easter Island. CoUected by Paymaster W. J. Thomson, U. S. N.)

Report of National Museum, 1889.— Thomson.

Plate LX.

Netting-needles and Fetish-stones.
,r.t No I'^nrSR U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected hy Paymaster W. J.
Fig 1 Netting-needles. (Cat. ivo. i...^-,

Thomson, U. S. N.) .,Q-.,-_i.xr-o u S N M Easter Island. Collected by Pa3'master

Fig. 3. Fetish-stones. (Cat. Nos l-a.oo - ".,
W. J. Thomson, U. S. N.)

proportionate width, and were designed to be roofless. They contain
remains of altars composed of the same materials as the wall of the
main inclosure, generally located at one end, and in shape resembling
parallelograms. In many cases, these edifices are in as perfect a state
of preservation as when countless numbers of human victims were im-
molated upon their altars, though time has obliterated all traces of
everything perishable.

In the search for prehistoric remains, the diversified character of the
many islands that dot the South Sea should be borne in mind. Coral
groups and atolls, these wonderful formations produced by the ceaseless
work of zoophytic animals, being of comparatively recent creation,
were perhaps merely tide-water reefs, when the islands of purely vol-
canic character were peopled by lawless and turbulent tribes, constantly
engaged in warfare and in making depredations upon each other. Even
where there is sufQcient evidence of antiquity to warrant the search,
the absence of monuments upon the low-lying islands of coral formation,
may be accounted for by the lack of suitable material for their construc-
tion, or to the destroying hurricanes that occasionally sweep across
this part of the Pacific, which are accompanied by a furious sea that
breaks completely over the narrow atolls, carrying death and devasta-
tion to all things animate and inanimate.

The height of the atolls, in many cases, does not exceed 5 or 6 feet
above the normal level of the sea surrounding them, and instances are
unfortunately abundant, of islands that have been transformed in a few
hours, from a scene of tropical luxuriance and with a contented people
surrounded by nature's most bountiful gifts, to one of utter barrenness
and desolation. The largest and most important islands of Polynesia
are of volcanic character, and bear evidences of having been inhabited
from a remote period. Here may be duplicated the Teocallis of Palen-
que, Copaii, and Uxmal. In some islands these ancient monuments
were searched out with great dilficulty, having been so completely
overgrown with dense tropical vegetation that their existence was not
suspected by the indifferent people of today.

While the islanders never advanced to a high civilization, and their
best efforts consist in cromlechs, dolmens, and elevated platforms or
truncated pyramids, their handiwork is still preserved, and points with
abundant interest to the history of a rude and early age.

The primitive Polynesians, like their contemporaries, the Incas of
Peru, may be judged in regard to their condition and history, by the
monuments they have left, for with the exception of Easter Island,
there is no trace of their having possessed a written language. Tribes
flourished, were conquered and passed out of existence, without leaving
a trace behind them except perhaps, a shadowy tradition. The natives
in this genial climate have always dwelt in rude structures of thatch and
cane, which after a few years of abandonment would decay and leave no
sign behind, unless it be a few broken implements lying about. Among

them, traditions Lave always been preserved with care, and it is wou-
derfal to find how the history of a people can be followed in this way
for hundreds of years. The Samoaus claim a complete chronicle dating
through twenty-two generations of the reigning family of Malietoa, and
extending over a period of eight hundred years, while the Tongaus can
chronicle a fairly accurate history of their priesthood through twelve

The priests have usually been the custodians of the national tradi-
tions, and there is sufficient evidence to show that every precaution was
taken to have them handed down from one generation to another, pure
and unchanged, for oral record was their only means of committing to
posterity the deeds of their ancestors.

To be intrusted with the traditions, constituted of itself an office of
high dignity, and the holder was afforded the protection of a taboo of
the most rigorous character.

Family records were perpetuated with the national history, but as
might be expected, there was a tendency to embellish them when ex-
tended back beyond a reasonable limit, with mythological personages
and improbable occurrences. Still the extraordinary power of these
keepers to preserve unimpaired for centuries, events and facts or even
the geneaology of important families, would astonish those who are fa-
miliar only with written history, and whose memories depend upon arti-
ficial aids. Except in a few cases, the traditions of the natives do not
extend back far enough to throw much light upon the ancient monu-
ments found upon the islands. This is due in a measure to the fact, that
in only isolated localities have the people lived unmolested for any
great length of time. The tribes were continually at war with one an-
other. From love of conquest, and jealousy, no tribe was safe from the
depredations of its neighbor, although living upon terms of supposed
friendship. The love of war induced frequent expeditions planned for
the destruction of the tribes of adjacent islands, while occasionally a
combination was made for more extensive operations against the unsus-
pecting natives of a different group. The visitors usually put to death
the fighting men of the conquered tribes and absorbed the others. The
traditions of both parties were preserved separately for a time, but they
naturally tended to merge together, and in this state, a combination of
the glories of both tribes were handed down never to be unraveled to
their succeeding generations. The monuments of antiquity scattered
throughout Polynesia, with the exception of Easter Island, increase in
importance as we advance to the westward, commencing with the cir-
cles of uncut stones, and advancing by regular steps until we arrive
at the more elaborate sculptures. This fact indicates the decline that

* These genealogies, altbongb widely kuowu and generally admitted to be true,
have receive<l tlie special investigation of some of tlie missionaries. Tlie Rev. Shir-
ley Baker, now premier of Tonga, asanres us that there is no reason to doobt them,
and that on the other hand there are many reasons for accepting them as absolute

cook place in the social and mental culture of the people as tliey rami-
fied eastward through the various islands of the Pacific. Detachments
arriving at the different groups separated into distinct communities as
accident or fancy directed ; here they became segregated, and rapidly
degenerated in knowledge and in the arts.

Starting with the Sandwich Islands, we find that the Hawaiian pre-
historic remains are confined to the most primitive forms of structures,
such as the remains of the pagan temple at Waikiki, and the enormous
lieiau at Punepa near lole, both of which are notable types of walled
in closures, and also the catacombs of Waimea, which do not greatly
differ from some of the places of sepulture in other islands.

Farther to the South and West, the Marquesas and Society groups
show nothing beyond the primitive works of people who have passed
away ages ago, leaving no other signs of their having existed.

The island of Eapa-titi, in mid Pacific and just outside the tropics,
contains evidences of a numerous population at some remote period.
The island is remarkably mountainous, though quite small, with pinna-
cles rising to the height of 2,000 feet, and precipitous cliffs jutting into
the sea. Massive forts command all the principal valleys ; they are
constructed of stone; built in terraces; and furnished with towers for
observation and rallying points.*

In the Friendly Islands are found some interesting relics of antiquity.
Near the ancient metropolis of Moa, on the island of Tongatabu, and
about 12 miles from Nukualofa, the present capital of the group, are
the graves of the Tui-Tongas.

These embrace nineteen truncated pyramids, measuring about 100 feet
square on the base lines, and rising in three terraces to a height of 25
feet. The stones used in their construction are of coral concrete, and
many of the huge blocks are 18 feet long by 5J feet high and 3 feet
thick, and weigh fully 20 tons each.

The labor of building these tombs was enormous, and when it is con-
sidered that the great blocks were cut from 'the coral reef about 3 miles
distant, and transported to the spot by savages who were ignorant of the
laws of mechanics, and who were without appliances, we can not fail to
be lost in wonder at the magnitude of the work accomplished. These
pyramids are of various ages, extending over a period of twelve hun-
dred and fifty years. They are overgrown by a dense forest of fao and
banyan trees, of immense size and great age, the roots of which have dis-
lodged and thrown down some of the largest stones. The Tui-Tongas
were high-priests and their genealogy has been carefully preserved-

* In 1867, the Freuch purchased the aovereiguty of this little island for a gallon of
mm and some old clothes, thus cutting out a, prospective American Steam-ship Com-
pany that bad fixed upon it for a coal depot. Coal is found here in small quantities,
and this fact has been adduced in support of the theory of a submerged continent in
the Pacific, a fallacy evident to the geologist. Although there are several bays, a
lauding maj' be made at any point owing to the remarkable sraoothuess of the sea.
The people bear a close resemblance to the New Zealaudera.

The priesthood was hereditary, descending from father to son. Under
the laws of Tonga the high-priests could marry only the daughters of
the king. Their sons became priests, and the daughters occupied a
position analogous to that of the Vestal Virgins and were not permitted
to marry. This long line is now extinct, thelastof theTui-Tongas hav-
ing been laid with his fathers in 1863.

About 6 miles beyond these tombs, on the eastern shore, stands an
ancient cromlech, or more properly speakinga dolmen. This interesting
monument is composed of three blocks of coral concrete. The two up-
rights are 14 feet high, 8 feet wide and nearly 4 feet thick, and weigh
over 15 tons each, while the cross-piece is somewhatsmaller and weighs
about 10 tons. The native tradition is that these larger masses of stone
were cut from the coral reef about 2 miles distant, and that the vertex
was brought by one of their large canoes from Wallis Island. While it
is possible for this legend to be founded upon fact, there is room for
strong doubt, since the same formation exists upon both islands; but
the difficulty of handling a stone of that size and weight, and of carrying
it a distance of 600 miles by sea, would hardly be warranted when it ■
could be quarried ontheirown shores. Viewed, however, as a trophy,
and the cromlech as a sort of triumphal arch to commemorate a victory,
(for the Tongans were perhaps the most successful of the ocean rovers
of the Pacific) the legend of the stone seems entitled to greater credence
thaa the neglected pile would at first warrant. The traditions do not
go back far enough to tell us by whom this cromlech was erected, but
simply assert its erection by one of the early kings on the advent of his
dynasty, a fact which the disintegration of the stone, due to age, would
seem to corroborate. The Samoans formerly erected stone pillars to the
memory of their chiefs, but the most interesting relic of former ages, in
this group, is the ruins of a heathen temple located in the mountains
near the center of the island of Opolu. Secreted in an almost in-
accessible gully, this temple was built in the form of an ellipse, meas-
uring 57 feet one way by 39 feet the other. The roof was evidently
thatched with pandanus leaves, as is the custom to the present day, but
three large columns of basaltic rock formed the center supports, while
the eaves rested upon the pillars of the same stone placed at intervals
of 3 feet apart around the ellipse. Many of these stones are still stand-
ing, .but the site has been almost obscured by a dense tropical growth.

Within a few feet of the old temple is an ancient tomb covered with
a large block of stone and marked by an upright basaltic column. Sa-
moau legends do not give much information about this ruin, but the
Tongan traditions hold that the temple was built by them, after they had
conquered the Samoans, aud that the tomb is that of one of the Tui-
Tougas who accompanied the successful expedition, aud who died and
was buried alongside of the temple. This couquest took place at least
eight hundred years ago, for it was about this tiuie that Malietoa I. was

made kiug, for his bravery and success in freeing bis country from the
Tongan yoke.

Plans were made to open this tomb, but for the lack of time could not
be carried out, and the observations on this interesting relic were con-
fined to one hasty visit.

Continuing still farther to the westward, to the island of Tiniau, one
of the Ladrones, are found two ranges of stone columns, over a dozen
in number, and somewhat similar in size and shape to those of the
cromlech at Tongatabu ; but the curious feature of this ruin is that
each column is surmounted by a large semi-globe, flat surface upward,
weighing 4 tons. Freycinet supposes them to be supports of wooden
ceilings to houses, that long ago have fallen into ruin, but other author-
ities assert that they are sepulchral urns. The natives call them " the
houses of the ancients."

Upon the adjacent islands are numerous remains of a similar charac-
ter, but in most cases the columns are smaller.

In the island of Pouape, Caroline group, are found remains of a
higher grade of stone work and which are a puzzle to ethnologists.*
Upon the bank of a creek that empties into Metalanien harbor is an
inclosure with massive walls built of basaltic prisms 300 feet long and
35 feet high. There is a gateway opening upon the creek composed of
enormous basaltic columns laid flat, inside of which is a court inclosed
by walls 30 feet high. There are terraces against the wall inside, also
built of basaltic prisms 8 feet high and 12 feet wide. The inclosure is
nearly square and is divided into three parts by low walls running north
and south.

In the center of each court is a closed chamber 14 feet square, orna-
mented with basaltic columns and roofed with the same stone. On the
central ridge of the opposite side of the island, 10 miles distant, are a
large number of very fine basaltic columns, and this must have been the
quarry for the structure just described, for the configuration of the land
is such that roads would have been impracticable, and the only deduc-
tion is that the material must have been taken down to the coast and
thence by water to the location on the creek.

This is reported to have been the home of the buccaneers, but it is
impossible that they could have put up works of such magnitude.
There are other ruins on the island, and also some mounds of consider-
able size, 12 feet high and a quarter of a mile long. On Kusai, and other
islands of the group are found ruins, but those of Ponape are by far the
most remarkable.

Though not properly in the province of the work, a short description
by Mr. Wallace of sdine of the architectural wonders of Java is in-
serted. He estimates the date of their construction at five hundred
years ago when the island was under the sway of the Hindoos.

* l^'roin Wa^Uace's " Austrnlia."

The road to Wonosalem led through a maguificent lorest, in the
depths of which we passed a fine ruin of what appeared to have been
a royal tomb or mausoleum. It is formed entirely of stone, and elabor-
ately carved. Near the base is a course of boldly projecting blocks,
sculptured in high relief, with a series of scenes which are probably in-
cidents in the life of the defunct. These are all beautifully executed,
some of the figures of animals in particular being easily recognizable
and very accurate. The general design, as far as the ruined state of
the upper part will permit of its being seen, is very good, the effect be-
ing given by an immense number and variety of projecting or retreat-
ing courses of squared stones in place of mouldings. The size of the
structure is about 30 feet square by 20 feet high, and as the traveler
comes suddenly upon it on a small elevation by the road side, over-
shadowed by gigantic trees, overrun with plants and creepers, and
closely backed by the gloomy forest, he is struck by the solemnity and
picturesque beauty of the scene, and is led to ponder on the strange
law of progress, which looks so like retrogression, and which in so many
distant parts of the world has exterminated or driven out a highly
artistic and constructive race, to make room for one which, as far as we
can judge is very far its inferior. The number and beauty of the archi-
tectural remains in Java have never been popularly illustrated or de-
scribed, and it will therefore take most people by surprise to learn that
they far surpass those of Central America, perchance those of India.
To give some idea of these ruins, perhaps to excite wealthy amateurs
to explore them thoroughly, and to obtain by photography on accurate
record of these beautiful sculptures before it is too late, I will enum-
erate the most important as briefly described in Sir Stanforns Raffle's
History of Java.

Near the center of Java, between the native capitals of Djoko-Kerta
and Sura-Kerta, is the village of Brambanam, not far from which are
abuodance of ruins, the most important being the temples of Loro-
Jongrau and Ghandi Sewa. At Loro-Jongran there were separate
buildings, six large, and fourteen small temples. They are now a
mass of ruins, but the largest temple was supposed to have been 90
feet high. They were all constructed of solid stone, everywhere
decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, and adorned with numbers
of statues, many of which remain entire. At ChandiSewa, or the
" thousand temples," are many fine colossal figures. Captain Baker,
who surveyed these ruins, said that he had never in his life seen
such stupendous and finished specimens of human labor, and the
science and taste of ages long since forgotten, crowded together in so
small a compass as in this spot. They cover a span of nearly 600 feet
square, and consist of an outer row of eighty-four temples; a second row
of seventy-six; a third row of sixty-four; a fourth of forty -four; and a
fifth forming an inner parallelogram of twenty -eight; in all two hun-

dred aaid niuetysix small temples disposed in five regular parallelo-
grams, la the center is a large cruciform temple surrounded l)y forty
flights of steps, richly ornamented with sculpture and containing many

The tropical vegetation has ruined most of the smaller temples, but
^some remain tolerably perfect, from which the effects of the whole may
'be imagined. About half a mile off is another temi)le, called Ohandi
Kali Bening, 72 feet scpiare and 60 feet high, in fine preservation, and
covered with sculptures of Hindu mythology surpassing any that exists
in India. Other rums of palaces, halls and temples, with abundance of
sculptured deities, are found in the same neighborhood.

About 80 miles eastward, in the province of Kedu, is thegreat temple of
Borobods. It is built upon a small hill, and consists of a central dome
and seven ranges of terraced wall, covering the slope of the hill,
forming open galleries, each below the other, and communicating by
steps and gateways. The central <lome is 50 feet in diameter; around
it is a triple circle of seventy-two towers; and the whole building is 620
feet square and about 100 feet high. In the terraced walls are niches
containing cross-legged figures larger than life, to the number of about
four hundred; both sides of the terraced walls are covered with bas-
reliefs crowded with figures carved in hard stone, which must there-
fore occupy an extent of nearly 3 miles in length.

The amount of human labor and skill expended upon the great pyra-
mids of Egypt, sink into insignificance when compared with that re-
quired to complete this sculi)tured hill temple in the interior of Java.

About 40 miles southwest of Samarang, on a mountain called Junong
Prau, an extensive plateau is covered with ruins. To reach the temples,
four flights of stone steps were made up to the mountain from opposite
directions, each flight containing more than a thousand steps. Traces
of nearly four hundred temples have been found here, and many (per-
haps all) were decorated with rich and delicate sculptures. The whole
country between this and Brambanam, a distance of 00 miles, abounds
with ruins, so that fine sculptured figures maybe seen lying in ditches,
or built into the walls of iuclosuces.

In the eastern part of Java, at Kediri, and in Melang, there are
equally abundant traces of antiquity, but the buildings themselves
have been mostly destroyed ; sculptured figures, however, abound, and
the ruins of forts, palaces, baths, aqueducts, and temples can be every-
where traced.

The ruins of the ancient city of Majapahit cover miles of ground
with paved roads, walls, tombs, and gateways, while sculptures of Hindu
gods and goddesses of hard trachytic rock are found in the forests or
in situ in temples. Some of the buildings are of brick of curious con-
struction ; the bricks are burned and built together without cement,
and yet adhere incomprehensibly.
H, Mis. 224, pt. 2 35

The natives reckoned their time, and in fact do so still by moons or
months, comraenciug the year with August, which was, according to
the traditions, the time when Hotu-Matua and his followers landed upon
the island.

The following corresponds nearly to the English months set oppo-'

Anekena August.

Eora-iti (little summer) September.

Hora-nui (big summer) October.

Tangarouri part of November.

Kotuti November and December.

Euti December and January.

Koro January.

Tuaharo February.

Tetnupu ...March.

Tarahao April.

Vaitu-nui (big winter) May.

Vaitu-poto (short winter) ...June.
Maro or Temaro July.

The natives have recently divided the months into weeks, giving to
the days the names of First day (Raa-po-tahi), Second day (Raa-po-rua),
Third day (Eaa-po-toru), etc. The week is commenced on Monday in
order to bring the seventh day on Sunday.

The month is divided into two equal portions, the first beginning
with the new moon, and the second with the full moon. The calendar
at the time of our visit to the island ran about as follows, the new
moon being full on November 26 :

Kokore tahi (first Kokore). -November 27
Kokore ru a ( second Kok ore ) . No vember 28
Kokore torn (third Kokore) .November 29
Kokore ha (fourth Kokore) . . November 30
Kokore rima (fifth Kokore) -December 1
Kokore ono (si-x;th Kokore).. December 2

Maharu, first quarter December 3

Ohua December 4

Otua December 5

Ohotu December 6

Maure December 7

Ina-ira December 8

Ea Kau December 9

Omotohi, full moon December 10

Kokore tahi (first Kokore) ..December 11
Kokore riia (second Kokore). December 12

Kokore tora (third Kokore) .December 13
Kokore ha (fourth Kokore) .December 14
Kokore rima (fifth Kokore).. December 1.5

Tapnme December 16

Matua December 17

Orongo, last quarter December 18

Orongo taane December 19

Mauri uui December 20

Marui Kero December 21

Omutu December 22

Tueo December 23

Oata December 24

©ari, new moou December 25

Kokore tahi (first Kokore) ..December 26
Etc., etc., etc.

The natives of Easter Island speak a dialect of the Malayo-Polynesian
language, which is so widel.y spread in the South Sea and Malay Archi-
pelago. Any one who will take the trouble to conipare the accompany-
ing vocabulary with the same words used by the natives of New Zea-
land, Tahiti, Rorotonga, Samoa, and any of the islands of Polynesia, will
see that many of the words are identically the same, and others show a
slight variation.

Not only do the words of this language resemble those spoken
throughout the South Sea, but all the dialects possess, in common, the

peculiarity of having a dual uumber of the personal pronouus in addi-
tion to the singular and plural. For example, he or she is, "Koia," in
the Maori it is, " ia ;" they two, on this island is " rana-a," in the Maori
it is " raua;" they, in tbis dialect is " pouro," in the Maori, it is "ratou."
Words are frequently reduphcated to denote the plural of collectives
in nouns, the comparative, or superlative degree in adjectives, and re-
peated action in verbs. "Iti" signifies little, " iti-iti," expresses very
little, and the word for small child is " poki iti-iti." Food, or to eat, is
" Kai," to eat much or heartily is expressed by " kai-kai." The names
of several of the colors are usually duplicated, as red, "mea-mea;"
black, "uri-uri;" white "tea-tea;" vermillion " ura-ura."

An interesting feature of the language is the native name for pig,
" Oru," which differs from the corresponding term in ail of the other
Polynesian dialects. It is i^robably derived from the grunting sound
made by the animal. In nearly all of the kindred dialects the name for
liig is "puaka," a word which is also applied by some of them to all
quadrupeds except the rat. The Easter Islanders have given this name
to cattle, calling a cow "puaka tamahine" (female puaka), and a bull
" j)uaka tamaroa" (male puaka). This tends to show that although
pigs had probably been introduced on theislands from which the ances-
tors of the present inhabitants came, they took none with them in their
migration, and only preserved the word puaka in a vague sense, as sig-
nifying a large animal with four legs. When cattle were introduced,
they consequently applied the term to them, and coined the new one

Fingers are called "manga-manga" and toes, " mangamauga vae,"
or literally the fingers of the foot. " Kiri " means covering, and to ex-
press the wood shoe they say "Kiri vae," or covering, forthefoot. "Ivi"
is the name applied to both needle and bone, which probably indicates
that the original needles were made of bone.

In the pronunciation of words of two syllables, the accent is on the
first; in words of three syllables it is generally on the second, and in
polysyllabic words it is on the penultimate. Modern articles recently
introduced on the island are called by their English names, or some-
thing that has a similar sound.

It is worthy of note that the word " Atua" is used to signify both
god and devil.

All (whole)

A or aud

Mata hi.

Kari-kari vae.

TTa noho toto.

Battle (war)

Bird (tropic)

Bring uie

Brother (elder)

Boobies (birds)

Club (short)

Clulj fdanciuj;)

Club (loDg)

Cooking place

Pi a.

Vaha. .

Vaka Poe-poe.

Manga luiro.

Hangu potu.

Iliku vera.

Pnaka tamaroa.

Miro taka-taka.

Oru tamaroa.

Tua iri.

Tana mimi.

Eve taki-eve.

Ilecki keho.

Kai tangata.

Poki iti-iti.

Maita Kia.

Raugi tea-tea.

Elva niao k.

Puaka taniahini.

C ure

C ut-graas

Come here

Cattle .

Calf of leg

Drink (water)

Dry •

Dry, V.

Eat (food)

Eat (heartily)

Eye (or face)

Oone vai.

Hami Kaufa.

Kaunu taa-vai.

Haka paka-paka.

Te maro.

Turi rima.

Tutu Mata.

Haka kemo.

Ika kato omai.

House (hnt)

Titi ,1.

He, sbe, it

En fa.

Tae nengo-neugo.

Fore- arm

Manga- manga.

Poki porekoibo

Finger (index)

Rinia tnhi benua.

Toto Ohio.

Finger (middle)

Roaroa tahanga.

I or me

Riuia tnhi ii hana.

Peka^peka va,e.

Finger (little)

Ko nninaroa.

For, or to

Haka reka.

Poki tamabini.

Give me

Mata ni.

Go away

Rari kau.

Gold coin

Hera parapa.

Lau gb

Topa tangi.

Po-o-te taugata
M aeh a.

Han go.

Light ( weigbt)

Get out

Gonrd vine

Hoko tahi.

Gras.s (iiue)

Long (far)

Kouni roa.

Grass (hunch)

Lose, V.
Limpet (Cbiton

Good -by

Hem am a.

Ura. ■

Physilia ntriculus

Papa Ki.

Palm (of hand)

Paraha Rima.

Kiko te ivi tika.

Kin a.

Vaha takitua.

Kiri ure.

Ua naiei.

Oone heke-heka.

Hon anei.

Vere ngutn.

Vai tahe.

Kiko na-na.

Maka motu.

Roll, V.

Hoa kona.

See, V.

Anei ril.

Nail (finger)

Mai kuku.

Kiri vai.

Shoot, V.

Hango pakakina.

Poko-poko ihn.

Kapu hivi.

Oar (paddle)

Rangi uri-uri.

An umu.

Path (trail)

Anei ra nei.

Tangi toka-tangi

Paran vangana.

Spirit (soul)

Spring (season)

Vaha bora.

Steal (thief)

Mea tupn.

Stand up

Kona oka kai.

Stone (tool)

Stouo ax

Swallow, V.

Satchel (valise)

Sit down

Stop (halt)

Small univalve

Sole (of foot)

Sea- weed

Trunk of tree

Koro iti.

Hakanoho hia.

Mea popo.

Oru tamahine.

Kiri puoko.

Kiri maripu.

Kapu bivi.

Pararaha vae.

Tua papa.

Kopu raau.

T4 Kona.

Ko viti.

Paki roki.

Mate vai.

Hatu tiri.

Miro tnpu.

Eana 4.

Toe (great)

To, or for

To fight

To throw away

To awake

To smoke

To cough

Vecsel (water)

Vine (fern)

Water (fresh)

Water (salt)

Whole (all)

Na na.

Papa Kona.

Rimametua nea-nea.

Manga-manga vae.

Mauga-manga tnmn.

E Olio.

Na niimi.

Ava mounga.

Tangata Matan.

Tea- tea.

Na via.

Motu rongo-rongo.

Waist Kakari manara.

Wrist Kakaii rima.

White-bait (fish) Poopo.

Year Tau.

Yellow Pava.

lu counting the natives use the fingers of both Iiands but never tbe

Kope tungn-tunga

1 = Ka-tahi.

2 = Ka-nia.

3 = Ka-toTii.

4 = Ka-ba.

5 = Ka-rima.

6 = Ka-ono.

7 = Ka-hitn.

8 = Ka-varu.

9 = Ka-iva.

= Aaugbiirii.

10 = Ka tabi te aangburn.

11 = Ka tabi te aaiigbnru Ka tabi.

12 = Ka tabi te aaDglinrn Ka riia.

13 = Katabi te aaiigbnrn Katorn, etc

20 = Ka ma te aangburn.

21 = Ka rua te aangbnru Ka tabi.

22 = Ka rna te aangburu Ka rua.

23 = Karuateaaugliuru Katoru, etc.

30 = Ka toru te aangbnru.

31 = Ka torn te aangburn Ka tabi.

32 = Ka torn te aaugbnrn Ka rua.

33 = Ka toru te aangburu Ka torn, etc.
40 - Ka b a te aangburn.

.')0 - Ka rima te aangburu.
GO = Ka ono te a.angbnrn.
70 = Ka bitu te aangbnru.
80 = Ka raru te .aangburu.
90 = Ka ira te aangburu.

100 = Ka rail.

101 = Ka tabi te ran ma tabi.

102 = Ka tabi te ran ma rna.

200 = Ka rna te ran,

201 = Ka rna te ran nia tal;i.

300 = Katoru te ran.

301 = Ka torn te ran ma tabi.

400 = K.a ba te ran.

401 = Ka ba te ran ma. tabi.
300 = Ka rima te ran, etc.

1,000 = Piere.
2,000 = Ka rna te piere.
3,000= Ka torn te piere.
4,000 = Ka ba te piere.
10,000 = Ka mano.
100,000 = Ka peka.
,000,000 = Ha ra.
Over one million, mingoi-ngoi.

From 1 to ]0 tbe syllables are pronounced as one word, in a multiple
of ten tbe words are distinctlj' separated. A record of numbers was
kept by stringing pieces of bulrush together.