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to whose ancestors it relates and who seemed to be doomed to speedy extinction.
   During our stay at the island we were treated with every courtesy by Mr. Salmon, who placed every facility within his power at our disposal for the prosecution of our work, and I am indebted to him for much of the information embodied in this report.
   Wednesday, December 29, was devoted to explorations in the vicinity of Vaihu, to the collection of data, and taking of notes, and at 7 o'clock in the evening drove to Mr. Brander's house, near the village of Mataveri, having thus completed the tour of the coast line of the island. That evening, in company with Mr. Salmon, a visit was made to Chief Ure Vaeiko, 83 years old, for the purpose of having him interpret the hieroglyphic writings on the wooden tablets and photographs. This he did into the Rapa Nui language, the interpretation being taken down by Mr. Salmon, stretched at full length in the litter constituting the floor of the house, and subsequently translated into English by him. The latter, with the paymaster, was engaged with this work through the entire night, and at 10 o'clock next morning, the 30th, met the writer at Mr. Brander's house. A large portion of his day was devoted to visiting the villages, inspecting the houses, and making physical examinations. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon we returned to the house of Mr. Salmon, at Vaihu, where a note from the ship was received urging our immediate return, as the image had been received on board and the Mohican was to sail on the following day.
   Another night was passed at the house of Mr. Salmon, and at 7 o'clock on the morning of December 31, our preparations being completed, we started on our return. The "buggy" was again brought into requisition and carried us as far as Rana Roraka the road terminating at the corral at its base. here we alighted, and the natives distributing and shouldering our implements, all hands except Mr. Salmon, who rode on horseback, struck out to cross the island on foot to La Perouse Bay. The distance was about 3 miles by the trail,which was rough and rocky but quite level, and was accomplished in an hour. On the way we passed our camp of December 23 and 24, "Whitney," where a party of native men and women had spent the preceding, and it is to be hoped a drier, night than we did under the overhanging rock.
   We arrived at the landing in Hanga-one Bay, whence the image had been boated off to the ship after having been brought a distance of 2½ miles overland on a sled, at about 9 o'clock in the morning, and in a little while thereafter returned on board after an absence from the ship of twelve days. At 3 o'clock the same afternoon, all financial matters having been concluded, and a number of sheep, the parting gifts of Messrs. Salmon and Brander, having been received on board, we bade farewell to our gentle Rapa Nui friends and steamed away for Valparaiso.
   We found the natives who accompanied us bright, willing, tractable,

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