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Easter Island: Early Witnesses

George Cooke


692

EXPEDITION AROUND THE COAST LINE.

   The investigations upon which this report is based cover a period of twelve days, from December 19 to December 30, 1886, inclusive, and were conducted in association with two other officers (the paymaster and the navigator) of the ship, to whom, as to the writer, special duties, predicated upon the information desired by the Smithsoiaian Institution, were assigned, respectively.
   The Mohican anchored in the roadstead of the Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui, in the forenoon of Saturday, December 18, and on the morning of the 19th the writer proceeded ashore and immediately began his duties. On that day the crater of Rana Kao was visited and a general inspection was made of the stone huts, the painted slabs in their interior, the sculptured rocks, etc., and of the crater itself, in the immediate vicinity of which these objects of interest are located. At 3 o'clock p. m. the party returned to the house of Mr. John Brander, near the base of the volcano, from which we had taken our departure in the morning, and toward evening, mounting a wagon, were driven to the residence of Mr. Alexander P. Salmon at Vaihu, distant 5 miles, on the southeast coast of the island and formerly a Catholic mission.
   At an early hour on Monday morning, December 20, we were driven back to the house of Mr. Brander, obtaining a view of the Obsidian Mountain as we skirted its base, and shortly after ascended Rana Kao, accompanied by a detail of men from the ship, with the necessary implements and instruments for making excavations and surveying. Private Anton Ayasse, of the marine guard of the ship, a clever draftsman, also accompanied the party for the purpose of making sketches of objects of interest.
   The entire day was passed upon the mountain and a large amount of work performed, in the way of exploring the stone houses, inspecting the sculptured rocks in the vicinity, excavating, etc. Toward evening the descent was made and the night was passed at the house of Mr. Brander with somewhat more of comfort than had attended the previous one.
   On the following morning, Tuesday, December 21, early preparations were made for the expedition around the entire coast line of the island. Four native men, named Huki, Luk , Haie, and Brotto, were engaged as guides and general utility men, with two pack horses for carrying camp equipage and provisions. Nine men, including the chief quartermaster of the ship, a boatswain's mate, and private Ayasse as draftsman, were detailed to accompany the party with tools for excavating, etc. The paymaster and navigator, with the writer and a naval cadet as assistant to the navigator, comprised the officers, and a young American, Mr. Frank Allen, in the employ of Mr. Salmon, went along as interpreter.
   All being ready, the party started from the house of Mr. Brander at

692


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