Tongariki : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TONGARIKI. Camp Baird was delightfully located in a commodious cave called Ana Havea, on the bay of Hanga Nui, near Point Onetea, and its proximity to Rana Roraka where all the monoliths on the island had been quarried...
List Of Ethnographic Specimens Obtained : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], LIST OF ETHNOGRAPHIC SPECIMENS OBTAINED AT EASTER ISLAND. Wooden image.--Called Moai Tangata. Male figure made of toromiro wood, with eyes of bone and obsidian. (Plate L, fig. l.) Wooden image.--Called Moai Kva-kva. Male...
Anakena Bay : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], p. 489 ANAKENA BAY. December 23.--A dip in the sea at daylight, and a breakfast of mutton 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...
Language : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], LANGUAGE The principal feature of interest, connected with Easter Island, is the written language by which the ancient traditions and legends were perpetuated. The existence of the incised tablets was not known until...
Natural Caves : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], NATURAL CAVES. Among some outcropping rocks near by, a cave was accidentally discovered, with a mouth so small that an entrance was effected with difficulty. Once inside, however, it branched out into spacious chambers th...
Reconnaisance To Rana Kao : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], RECONNAISANCE TO RANA KAO. 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 rod tufa w...
Untitled : * Easter Island is a surreal landscape, with its giant stone heads and undeciphered rongo-rongo script--the only writing system invented in the Pacific islands. This account of an expedition to Easter Island in the late nineteenth century will have modern social scientists (as well as indigenous...
The Poike Plains : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], THE POIKE PLAINS. The Poike Plains are extensive tracts of fine red volcanic sand and dust with occasional patches of hummock-grass struggling for existence in this barren waste. Manga Tea-tea (White Mountains), so called...
Thieving : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], THIEVING. The natives did not 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 patronage, and only detected when not...
Vocabulary : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], VOCABULARY. Absent: Ngaro. Adieu: Kamoi. Air: Hangu. Aid: Hanu. All (whole) :Ananak Ancestor: Tapuna. Artisan: Maori. Autumn: Vaha-tonga. Ax: Toki. A or and: E. Age: Mata hi. Abdomen: Manava. Ankle: Kari-kari vae. Arms: Kauf...
Villages And Habitations : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], VILLAGES AND HABITATIONS. The Catholic missionaries built at Vaihu, on the south coast, near Cape Koe Koe, a commodious and substantial church, a parsonage containing three rooms, and several outbuildings. The house is now...
Tradition In Regard To The Origin Of The Islanders : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TRADITION IN REGARD TO THE ORIGIN OF THE ISLANDERS. The island was discovered by King Hotu-Matua, who came from the land in the direction of the rising Sun, with two large double canoes and three hundred chosen followers. They...
Skulls Showing Peculiar Marks : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SKULLS SHOWING PECULIAR MARKS. 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...
Translation Of The Easter Island Tablet, Apai : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TRANSLATION OF EASTER ISLAND TABLETS. APAI. (Plates XXXVI and XXXVII.) Timo to kakaha piki apai to roria aruki e tangata Mohonkuta mohonga matangi eiri apai ia ra Techo i te ika mahoi rua matangi apai tirori mahoi rua matangi...
Exploration Of The Island : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], EXPLORATION OF THE ISLAND. The "Mohican" came to anchor in the roadstead of Hanga Roa (Plate XVI) on the morning of Saturday, December 18, 1886. The individual's most interested in the exploration of the island went on shore...
Flora : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], FLORA. 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 p...
Numerals : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], NUMERALS. In counting the natives use the fingers of both hands but never the toes. 1 = Ka-tahi. 2 = Ka-rua. 3 = Ka-toru. 4 = Ka-ha. 5 = Ka-rima. 6 = Ka-ono. 7 = Ka-hitu. 8 = Ka-varu. 9 = Ka-iva. 0 = Aanghuru. 10 = Ka tahi te...
Reptiles And Insects : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], REPTILES AND INSECTS. 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, but there are centipedes whose bite is said to be...
Weapons And War : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], WEAPONS AND WAR The native weapons in offensive and defensive operations were limited to obsidian-pointed spears, short clubs, and the throwing-stones, but these were handled with remarkable shill and dexterity. The history...
Climate : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], CLIMATE. The climate is not unlike that of Madeira, with one wet and one dry season. From April to October the rainfall is copious, and in summer it is limited to passing showers. The mean temperature at the time of our visit...
Birds : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], BIRDS. 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...
Ruins Of The Oldest Habitation On The Island : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], RUINS OF THE OLDEST HABITATION ON THE ISLAND. On the high bluff west of Kotatake Mountain we discovered the ruins of a settlement extending more than a mile along the coast-line and inland to the base of the hill. These...
Platforms And Images : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], p. 497 PLATFORMS AND IMAGES. In order to form an estimate of the magnitude of the work performed by the image-makers, every one on the island was carefully counted, and the list shows a total of five hundred and fifty-five...
Genealogy Of The Kings Of Easter Island : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], GENEALOGY OF THE KINGS OF EASTER ISLAND. Hotu-Matua, driven from his kingdom to the eastward by the rebellion of his subjects, landed with a close band of his followers at Easter p. 534 Islands, in the mouth of August...
Amusements : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], AMUSEMENTS. 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 purpose of enjoyment except all occasional...
Sacrificial Stones : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SACRIFICIAL STONES. 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...
Sailing Directions : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SAILING DIRECTIONS. Vessels anchoring on this unprotected coast must be guided entirely by the direction of the wind at the time. The Mohican anchored in the roadstead of Hanga Roa (Cook's Bay on the English charts)...
Dress : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], DRESS. The costume of the natives is at present made up of the cast-off clothing obtained from ships of all nations that have called at the island, but principally old uniforms of the French, Spanish, and English vessels...
Various Names Of The Island : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], VARIOUS NAMES OF THE ISLAND. Previous to the general recognition of the name bestowed by Admiral Roggeveen in commemoration of the day upon which the land was discovered, it had not been regularly christened by either...
Language Vocabulary : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], LANGUAGE--VOCABULARY The natives reckoned their time, and in fact do so still by moons or months, commencing the year with August, which was, according to the traditions, the time when Hotu-Matua and his followers landed up...
Text Of The Easter Island Tablet. Eah : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], p. 523 TRANSLATION OF EASTER ISLAND TABLETS. EAHA TO RAN ARIIKI KETE. (Plates XL and XLI.) 1. Eaha to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei? E tupu tomo a mata mea e rangi ran e tuatea to ran ariiki kete mahua i uta nei. Ane r...
Sculptured Rocks : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SCULPTURED ROCKS. The most important sculptured rocks on this island (Plate XXII) are in the immediate vicinity of the stone houses at Orongo (Fig. 7). As FIG. 7. SCULPTURED ROCKS NEAR ORONGO much time is possible was devoted...
Fire : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], FIRE. The method of obtaining fire requires considerable preparation of material and patience on the part of the operator. A pointed stick of hard wood is rubbed against a piece of dry paper-mulberry until a groove, is formed...
Burial Of The Dead : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 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...
Salutation : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SALUTATION. The form. of salutation is "Kohomai," literally interpreted, "Come to me." This is always heartily expressed, and parties meeting often shout out the kohomai while some distance apart. The greeting is varied by...
Government : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], GOVERNMENT. 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 tights and internecine...
Cannibalism : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], CANNIBALISM. The traditions abound with instances of anthropophagism, 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...
Brutal Treatment Of Natives : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], BRUTAL TREATMENT OF NATIVES BY EARLY VOYAGERS. The brutal treatment that the islanders received from the hands of their early visitors was not calculated to impress them favorably. Usually the strangers were met upon their...
Mats : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], MATS. 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 the collecti...
Religion : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], RELIGION. Like most savage nations, the Easter Islanders had numerous superstitions and resorted to charms, prayers, incantations, and amulets to bring good luck and ward off evil. A thorough delineation of these superstitions...
Tradition Regarding Fish Hooks : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TRADITION REGARDING FISH HOOKS. 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...
Personal Appearance Of The Natives : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE NATIVES. In describing the personal appearance of the islanders (Plate XIV) the early writers give us a pleasing variety to choose from. Behrens solemnly states that a boat came off to the ship...
The Ancient Stone House At Orongo : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], THE ANCIENT STONE HOUSE AT ORONGO. December 20.--Leaving Vaihu at early daylight we arrived at Hanga Roa in time to meet the detachment of eight selected men sent on shore from the ship with proper tools and implements...
Ancient Customs In Relation To Gathering : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], ANCIENT CUSTOMS IN RELATION TO GATHERING THE SEA-BIRDS EGGS. From the most reliable information that could be obtained, the stone houses at Orongo were built for the accommodation of the natives while celebrating the festival...
Geological Features : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. The geological features of the island are replete with interest. The formation is purely of a volcanic character and embraces every variety pertaining to that Basaltic, cellular, and tufaceous lavas abound...
Mammals : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], MAMMALS. There are no quadrupeds peculiar to the island except several varieties 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...
Cave And Tomb Near Ahuakapu Point : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], CAVE AND TOMB NEAR AHUAKAPU POINT. On the face of the cliff near the point, Ahuakapu, a large and interesting cave, was visited. Many of the recesses and angles had been walled up and contained human remains. Fossiliferous...
Title Page : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. TE PITO TE HENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND BY WILLIAM J. THOMSON, Paymaster, U. S. Navy. From The Report Of The National Museum, 1888-'89, Pages 447-552 (with Plates XII-LX)...
Rana Roraka : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], RANA RORAKA. 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...
Natives : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], NATIVES. 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...
Boats : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], BOATS. Hotu-Matua is said to have landed upon the island with three hundred followers in two canoes, which are described in the traditions as 90 feet in length and 6 feet deep (draught of water). From the description given...
Tattooing : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TATTOOING. Tattooing is not practiced at the present time, none being observed upon children and young persons. But all those advanced in life are ornamented on all parts of the body. Unlike the Samoans and other islanders...
Fishes : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], FISHES. Fish has always been the principal means of support for the islanders, and the natives are exceedingly expert in the various methods of capturing them. The bonito, albicore, ray, dolphin, and porpoise are the off shore...
Text Of The Easter Island Tablets. Father : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], p. 525 TRANSLATION OF EASTER ISLAND TABLETS. FATHER MOURNING THE LOSS OF HIS CHILD. (Plates XLII and XLIII.) Ka ihi uiga te ki ati Auwe te poki, e Ite maki tana Rii te hiva ina. Ka ihi uiga mai. 2. Ka ihi uiga te ki ati Auwe...
Text Of The Easter Island Tablet. Ate A Reng : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], p. 526 TRANSLATION OF EASTER ISLAND TABLET. "Ate-a-renga-hokan Iti Poheraa." LOVE SONG. (Plates XLIV and XLV.) Ka tagi, Renga-a-manu hakaopa; Chiu runarame a ita metua. Ka ketu te nairo hihi O to hoa! Eaha ton tiena e te hoa e...
Polynesian Archaeology : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], POLYNESIAN ARCHOLOGY. The most ancient monuments of Polynesia are the lithic and megalithic remains, coincident in style and character with the Druidical circles of Europe, and the exact counterpart of those of Stonehenge...
Diseases And Their Treatment : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. The practice of relieving pain by manipulation of the body was the effective movement cure resorted to by the islanders years before the Swedish or massage treatment assumed its present prominence...
Text Of The Easter Island Tablet. Atua Matariri : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TRANSLATION OF THE EASTER ISLAND TABLETS. ATUA MATARIRI. (Plates XXXVIII and XXXIX.) Atua Matariri; Ki ai Kiroto, Kia Taporo, Kapu to Poporo. Ahimahima Marao; Ki ai Kiroto, Takihi Tupufema, Kapu te Kihikehi. Aoevai; Ki ai...
Nets And Ropes : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], NETS AND ROPES Various forms of fishing nets were manufactured, from the hand net to the long seine called "kupenga maito," which was supported by poles at the extremities, weighted with stone sinkers on the submerged edge...
Superstitions : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], SUPERSTITIONS. The islanders were superstitions to an extent that was extraordinary, and they were constantly tinder the influence of dread from demons or supernatural beings. Fish-hooks were made of bones of deceased...
More Rongo Rongo Plates : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], OBVERSE AND REVERSE OF EASTER ISLAND TABLET. (From a cast lent by Parke, Davis & Co.) REVERSE OF EASTER ISLAND TABLET, OBTAINED BY THE CHILIAN CORVETTE "O'HIGGINS" (Original in Santiago Museum, Chili) OBVERSE OF EASTER ISL...
Employment Of Natives : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], EMPLOYMENT OF NATIVES. The investigations in 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...
The Discovery Of Easter Island : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], MAP OF EASTER ISLAND p. 447 TE PITO TE HENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND. By Paymaster WILLIAM J. THOMPSON, U. S. Navy. THE DISCOVERY OF EASTER ISLAND. The honor of the discovery of Easter Island is contested by several of the earlier...
Tradition Regarding Obsidian Spear Points : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], TRADITION REGARDING OBSIDIAN SPEAR-POINTS. The implements of warfare brought to the island by King Hotu Matua and his followers were few in number, and in the course of time became broken, lost, or destroyed. The clans were...
The Native Dance : * "Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island", by William J. Thompson, [1891], THE NATIVE 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...