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Easter Island: Early Witnesses

George Cooke


699

conditions still adherent to the bed rock and measuring 69 feet 9 inches in length.
   That evening, after dark, the natives remaining with us entertained us with an exhibition of their manner of capturing the crayfish. Stripped to the skin and holding aloft in the left hand a huge lighted torch composed of loose fagots, they would jump from rock to rock and bowlder to bowlser with the agility of monkeys. Peering into the depths below, and having discovered their prey, they would leap into the water, often to their necks, deftly seize the crustacean and pass it to a companion who, with another burning torch, attended them for the purpose. Again they would sight their game in a cleft, or under a submerged overhanging rock, and, swiftly inserting the hand, would rarely fail to bring forth a captive. For an hour or more the sport continued. The sight was a strange, wierd, savage, and interesting one, and the array of ura (Rapa Nui for crayfish), which at the termination of the hunt they proudly spread before us gave ample testimony to their dexterity.
   Sunday, December 26, the writer passed quietly in camp, and the following day was devoted to further explorations and excavations.
   Tuesday, December 28, we broke camp and abandoned Ana Havea, which had so long sheltered us, all the party, except the paymaster and writer, returning across the island to the ship, which had been moved around to La Perouse Bay, on the north side of the island, for the more convenient transportation on board of the selected image.
   In company with Mr. Salmon, who had passed the previous night with us at the cave, and riding with him in his "buggy," we were taken to his house at Vaihu, formerly a Catholic mission but now abandoned as such. The church and parsonage, with outbuildings, are still standing, the former being used in part as a storehouse, while in the remaining portion divine service is held daily under native leadership. The parsonage, comprising three rooms, is occupicd by Mr. Salmon as his dwelling, and he has here displayed a portion of his very curious, interesting, and valuable collection of Rapa Nui antiquities.
   It is but just to noted in this place, that too much credit can not be awarded Mr. Salmon for the great interest he takes in everything pertaining to the island - its history, its people, traditions, and remains. He is an enthusiast upon this subject, has made it a study of years, and has devoted time, money, and his best energies toward assisting in elucidating the mystery which envelops this isolated mid-ocean island, its hieroglyphs, its rock carvings, its colossal remains and the strange people who wrought them. Mr. Salmon has resided here for a period of seven years in all, and during that time, in addition to his large collection, he has made a study of his subject, has interested himself in the natives and their improvement, and has accumulated a large amount of information, legends, and traditions, which otherwise, perhaps, would in a few years have perished with the people

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