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during our entire trip and we duly commanded our
guides, accordingly, much to their gratification.
I was much surprised when, next morning, on visiting
the well, or spring, situated immediately adjoining
one of the image platforms, I found it nothing
more than a shallow excavation among the loose
stones, and covered in order to keep the cattle
and sheep from drinking the precious fluid, of
which there was but a few inches in depth
remaining. The water was surface water only, and
had percolated between the rocks, into the cavity,
after rains. The knowledge that these image
platforms, have, from time immemorial even unto
the present day, been utilized as burial places by
the natives, did not enhance our enjoyment of the
liquid.
The men slept in a comfortable cave that
night, and for our own
accommodation an overhanging shelf of rock was economized.
This was too narrow to entirely shelter the party,
and the deficiency of rock was, therefore,
supplemented with blankets, banana leaves, etc.,
laid upon cords stretched in various directions.
The scheme proved a delusion, for the
post-midnight showers descended as usual, the
banana leaves formed admirable conduits to lead
the water where it did the most harm, and the
customary hasty vacating of the den in the night
was the inevitable result.
These successive nocturnal experiences served to
impress on our minds the absurdity of leaving the
ship unprovided with a suitable tent, or at least
an old sail with which necessary shelter could be
improvised.
We struck camp and got away early,
sending the camp builders with the pack animals
overland to the south side of the island, where at
a certain place, as the natives informed us, a
fine, roomy cave and good water would be found,
and which was decided upon as our next camp.
Our own course continued along the north coast
around Cape Pokokoria, along the cast shore to
Cape Anaataavanui, and thence in a westerly
direction along the south coast to camp, near
Hanga Nui Bay and Point Onetea.
During the early part of the day
the ground was of the same rugged nature as that
already passed over, but on reaching the base of
Mount Pua-ko-taki, at the eastern end of the
island, the character of the surface changed,
being covered with hummock grass, alternating with
extensive tracts of fine, red volcanic sand, and
dust, more particularly on the northern and
eastern slopes of the mountain. lt was asserted
that in this red sand most of the stone axes and
other implements were to be found, particularly
after strong gales, when they were uncovered by
the wind, and careful search was made accordingly,
but with indifferent success. After luncheon,
partaken of on top of the mountain, the descent,
which was gradual, as was also the ascent, was
made on the eastern side, the ground being of the
same sandy nature. Diligent search was again made
while traversing this, and a few specimens of
stone implements, in large part mutilated, were
obtained.
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