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Easter Island: Early Witnesses

William Thomson


508

it is pretty well established that they were intended as effigies of chiefs or distinguished persons. The terrace behind the platform was also used as a burial-place, and contained remains of an ancient date. Succeeding generations have utilized the same places for the same purposes, but there are passages under the platform that have never been opened since the structure was built. The entire plain back of Tongariki Bay is one vast cemetery, containing the decaying remains of thousands of people. Every pile of stones, cave or ruined platform, house or cairn, has been used as a tomb. The christianized natives of to-day still regard this as a favorite burial-place. They have neither the ambition nor the industry to construct tombs for themselves, but are content to place their dead in receptacles filled with the remains of their ancestors. The recess-angles between the bodies of the fallen images, and the platforms upon which the base rests, are filled with remains of a recent date.
   Platform No. 53.-Called "One-tea". Completely in ruins. Three images much broken. Foundation proper about 100 feet long.
   Platform No. 54.-Called "Opaarionga". Small and unimportant. Central section 20 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Remains of one small image.
   Platform No. 55.-Called "Hangatufata"; 125 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Five images thrown down, broken and in bad condition.
   Platform No.56.-Called "Onemakihi". Central section 40 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length, including wings, 100 feet. One image much mutilated.
   Platform No.57.-Called "Punakape". Central section 40 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length 80 feet. In ruins, and no images.
   Platform No. 58.-Called "Moaitutahi". Central section 150 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length 250 feet. Only two images remain, but appearances indicate that others have been destroyed. Upon terraces sloping towards the sea from the front are numerous remains of image-builders' houses. From the back of the structure a nicely paved way, 10 feet wide, extends inland for a distance of 200 yards.
   Platform No.59.-Called "Hanga-mahihiku". A mere mass of ruins, and almost devoid of shape. No images.
   Platform No. 60.-Called Ahuakoi". Central section 75 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length, 160 feet. In a bad condition, and no images.
   Platform No. 61.-Called "Hanga-tutuki". A mere mass of ruins covering human remains.
   Platform No. 62. -Called "Ahupoepoe". In same condition as the last and without images.
   Platform No.63.-Called "Vaimoai". Central section 40 feet long, 6 feet wide,and 8 feet high. Extreme length, 90 feet. In bad condition, and no images.

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