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Easter Island: Early Witnesses
William Thomson
513
diameter and circular in shape. 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. 111.-Called "Ahutapai." Has been
pretty thoroughly demolished. Six images in a bad
condition lie on the top of the pile.
Platform No.
112.-Called "Ahurikiriki." 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-fences about his place.
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 the
missionaries settled upon the island.
Numerous specimens were found in 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 remarkable skill with
which the figures were executed, 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 Gana secured three tablets, two of which
are on 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 (Mittheilungen, July, 1871).
Seven of these tablets are now in the possession
of Tepano Jansser, bishop of Axieri, all in
excellent state of preservation.
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