Te Pito Te Henua, Or Easter Island

[Jennifer Murdoch]

have called at the island. A niche in the wall of each of these dwellings was evidently designed to receive the household god and the various valuables which were possessed by the inhabitants. Whatever treasures they may have held in former years, we found them empty, and our search revealed nothing of importance.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

Attention was directed to one of the buildings in this assemblage that apparently had no entrance, way. One wall was demolished, disclosing a rude coffin containing the remains of a native recently deceased. The unoccupied house had been utilized as a tomb, and sealed up with the material of which the walls were built.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

SCULPTURED ROCKS.

The most important sculptured rocks on this island (Plate XXII) are in the immediate vicinity of the stone houses at Orongo (Fig. 7). As

 


FIG. 7.
SCULPTURED ROCKS NEAR ORONGO

[Jennifer Murdoch]

much time is possible was devoted to examining and sketching these curious relies. The hard volcanic rock is covered by carvings intended to represent human faces, birds, fishes, and mythical animals, all very much defaced by the ravages of time and the elements (Plate XXIII). The apparent age of some of the rock-carvings antedates the neighboring stone houses, the images, and other relics of the island except the ruined village on the bluff west of Kotatake Mountain. Fishes and turtles appear frequently among these sculptures, but the most common figure is a mythical animal, half human in form, with bowed back and long claw-like legs and arms. According to the natives. this symbol was

p. 482

[Jennifer Murdoch]

intended to represent the god "Meke Meke," the great spirit of the sea (Fig. . The general outline of this figure rudely carved upon the

[Jennifer Murdoch]

FIG. 8.
SCULPTURED FIGURES OFTEN REPRODUCED ON ROCKS AT ORONGO: "MEKE MEKE"

[Jennifer Murdoch]

rocks, bore a striking resemblance to the decoration on a piece of pottery which I once dug up in Peru, while making excavations among the graves of the Incas. The form is nearly identical, but, except in this instance, no similarity was discovered between the relies of Easter Island and the coast of South America.

 

[Jennifer Murdoch]

PICTURED SLABS TAKEN FROM THE ANCIENT STONE-HOUSES AT ORONGO
(Cat No. 128373-128376, U. S. N. M. Easter Island. Collected by Commander B. F. Day, U. S. N.)

[Jennifer Murdoch]

ANCIENT CUSTOMS IN RELATION TO GATHERING THE SEA-BIRDS EGGS.

From the most reliable information that could be obtained, the stone houses at Orongo were built for the accommodation of the natives while celebrating the festival of the "sea-birds eggs," from a remote period until the advent of the most important ceremonies.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

During the winter months, sea-birds in great numbers visit the Island to lay their eggs and to bring forth their young. The nests are made among the ledges and cliffs of the inaccessible rocks, but a favorite spot for these birds has always been the tiny islands Mutu Rau Kau and Muto Nui, lying a few hundred yards from the southwest point of the island (Plate XXIV). Here the first eggs of the season are laid, and therefore Orongo was selected as a convenient point to watch for the coming of the birds. According to the ancient custom, the fortunate individual who obtained possession of the first egg and returned with it unbroken to the expectant crowd, became entitled to certain privileges and rights during the following year. No especial authority was

p. 483

[Jennifer Murdoch]

vested in him, but it was supposed that he had won the approval of the great spirit "Meke Meke" and was entitled to receive contributions of food and other considerations from his fellows. The race for the distinguished honor of bearing off the first egg was an occasion of intense excitement. The contestants were held in check at Orongo until the auspicious moment arrived, and the scramble commenced at the word "go", pronounced by the king, who was about the only able-bodied man on the island who did not participate. It was decidedly a go as you please race, every man selecting his route to the sea by the circuitous paths or directly over the face of the cliff, and many fatal falls are recorded as the result.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

The swim to Mutu Rau Kau was a trifling matter, the chief difficulty being to return with an egg unbroken through the general scramble.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

The houses at Orongo were probably unoccupied except for a short period in July of each year while awaiting the coming of the sea-birds. The peculiarity of their construction might be accounted for by the fact that the thatched hut, common to the plains, could not be used to advantage on this exposed bluff. The low, contracted entrances, were used here as well as elsewhere for defense. Factional fights were common, and it was necessary that every house should be guarded against surprise and easily defended.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

Another reason might be found for making the openings as small as possible, in the absence of doors to shut out the storms. The sculptured rocks in the vicinity of Orongo bear record of the grateful contestants in the egg-races to the great spirit "Meke Meke" for his benign influence and protection, much after the manner in which boats, pictures, and other objects are dedicated to certain patron saints in more civilized portions of the earth.

[Jennifer Murdoch]

EMPLOYMENT OF NATIVES.

The investigations in the vicinity of Orongo having been finished, a contract was made with Mr. Brander for removing from the excavations and transporting to the landing-place the frescoed slabs, inscribed door. posts, and objects collected, and the evening was devoted to the native traditions until exhausted nature demanded a few hours rest. With a view of propitiating the natives and securing their good-will and cooperation in prosecuting the work with the utmost dispatch, a number of men were employed to assist in the excavations made at Orongo, but the experiment proved a