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Easter Island: Early Witnesses

George Cooke


696

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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