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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