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Easter Island: Early Witnesses

William Thomson


485

and in numerous instances interesting catacombs and tombs were discovered, containing remains of great antiquity. In this connection a peculiar trait in the native character was developed. Towards evening one of the native guides returned to pilot the working party to the place selected for the camp, just at the time a particularly old tomb had been uncovered and the crania were being removed from their former resting place. This the unsophisticated native took in at a glance, and with the announcement that we were desecrating the burial place of his forefathers, he set up a howl of despair, and became prostrated with grief at the sight of a skull which he claimed to recognize as that of his great-grandfather. Notwithstanding the absurdity of the statement, the anguish displayed induced us to return the bones to their ancient resting place. The afflicted youth quickly dried his eyes, and intimated that for a suitable reward he would be willing to dispose of the remains of his ancestors, and he thought that a consideration of about $2 would assuage his grief. That settled it. The skulls were gathered into the collection, and the sorrowing native left to mourn the loss both of the money and of the bones of his forefathers.

450x349 GIF, 9.5k
FIG. 9.
OBSERVATION TOWER ON BLUFF NEAR ANHOIRANGAROA POINT.

Many of the stone bases upon which the images stood still remain their original positions upon the platforms. Generally they are irregular in shape, a few have been squared, and on platform No. 5 we

485


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