Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-12-05
PACIFIC SEA ISLANDS.
Remains Of Civilization OF Re.
mote Antiquity.

Modern science, which has brought to
light buried Troy, revealed tho place of
ancient Babylon, untombed tho mummy
Of tho Pharaoh Of Moses, and constructed
somewhat of o history for tho Aztccs
and tho moundsbuilderS, stands bafIled
before tho mysterious ruins of the Pa
cif1c Sea islands. writes a correspondent
OF I. o Chicago News.
Kusaie, otherwise known as Strong Is
land, of tho Caroline archipelago, with
q circumference of fifty miles, is covered
with massive ruins of q remote date.
They bear the outlines of Notifications,
and are built Of stones ten feet long,
duly squared on six sides, of q geologi-
cal formation not met with on tho is
land.
Ascension Island, known also as
Panape, is larger than Kusaie, possesses
similar ruins, but much larger. In ono
place there remains a wall 800 feet long
and 80 feet high, forming court.
Little Easter Island, on tho eastern
outskirts Of Polynesia, has no running
water, no trees, nothing to attract in
habitants. Yot this island is peopled
by Polynesians of the fair type, such
as arc found far away in tho Society ISL
ands, and is covered with remains of q
prehistoric civilization of which every
record but that of stone has persisted.
At the southwest end of tho island
there are to be found the ruins of nearly
hundred stono houses, built in regu-
lar lines and facing the sea- The walls
Of these houses are five feet thick and
over five feet high, built of layers of
fiat stones and lined inside with fiat
slabs. Internally the houses measure
about forty feet long by thirteen feet
wido, and they arc rooted over with
slabs overlapping like tiles. The in
side walls are painted in three colors-
red, black and white-with figures of
birds and mystic beasts and faces, and
/ geometrical figures. In one of these
houses was found q curious stone statue,
eight feet high, and weighing about
four tons, which is now in the British
Museum. o.. .
The sea.cliffs near this ancient settle.
ment are carved into gtotesque shapes
not unlike the paintings on the walls,
and the coast Is marked with hundreds
Of these strange sculptures.
Upon these platforms are stone pedes-
tails which have supported images, and
on some broken figures remain. On one
platform fifteen images were found, In
size ranging from three to thirty-tive
feet In height. They arc OF human
shape, representing tho upper part Of
the body only, with arms and hands
close to the sides. Tho heads are cut
fiat to allow of crowns being placed on
them, which crowns seem to have been
made, not of the same material rs the
statues, but Of red tufa. This has been
traced to an extinct crater within few
miles of the houses, and on tho brink Of
this crater largo number of crowns
were found, finished and ready for re-
moval before some strange fate depeo.
pled the island OF these ancient wor
shippers. ..
The images themselves nro made Of
gray lava, which is only found at quite
another crater at the other end of tho
island. At this crater-called Otouli--
there are several finished and partly
finished images, just as they were left
by the workmen. Tho head Of ono
of these measures twenty feet from
the nape of tho neck to the
crown. Tho faces of tho in. ges
have well-deflned features, with thin
lips, broad noses, expanded nostrils,
and general disdainful expression. 1t
Is believed, from the appearance OF tho
eye.sockets, that obsidian oyeballs were
intended to be inserted. Tho cars arc
very carefully carved, and arc promi-
| mont.
Thore are also, in different parts of
Tho island, wooden tablets covered with
curious carvings and strange HERO
glyphics, which no one can explain.
At Oparo, or Rapaiti, Captain Vino
Hall found q temple, or castle, in five
stages, surrounded by walls which in
olose stono houses, and also square plat
forms of stone on the sides of one of
the hills, similar to those on Easter
] island. This ialo is 2.0nO miles from,