The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-31
ON AN ISLAND OF MYSTERY.
CURTOSfTIES IRON a STRANGE LAND
IN THE SOUTH SEAS

-
what an Expedition 10 Easter Island hns
Discovered-Tabiets OF Wood which VIII
Tell OF Hts Histors-Coessai sfntnes.
h"r'si rissfor"s' sna . VAST Neer"re"s.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2a-What has been re-
gardod always as an island OF mystery and
wonder has boon explored recently by an ex-
pedition OF the Smithsonian Institution. with
the result OF throwing Hood OF light upon Its
history and the origin OF the marvels OF hui
man handiwork found there. This far-o spot
In the Pacific goes far to realize in sober mat
ter OF TACT the description by Rider Haggard OF
the imaginary kingdom Of Kor. once the homo
OF large population and afterward an i'm
mense cemetery with Its thousands OF rocky
caverns filled with the bones OF Wondering
dead. Such. in truth. Is tho famous Easter
Island. which has been puzzle to ethnolo-
glsts and students OF antiquity. Tablets Of
wood, bearing inscriptions In an ancient Ian
guaGe. which toll many surprising things, and
numerous curiosities. have been brought
away ior the national Museum.
AthouRh only rock OF lava thrown IN from
the depths OF tho sea anu having an area OF
only thirty-two square miles. Easter Island
had once population of more than 10000 1t
is actually honeycombed with caves formed by
bubbles OF expanding gases during volcanic
action. and they were used for dwelling places
by the people while nlivc. their bones roposing
IN thom after DEATH The entire island Is u
metropolis. Not merely arc the caverns
crowded with skeletons. but everywhere are
the ruins OF enormous tombs and catacombs
The huge quantities OF human remains. not
less than the character Of the ruined works.
prove the occupancy OF tho. island for a
period covering many hundreds Of years
The most remarkable tombs are immense plat
forms built OF rough and hown stones. which
were surmounted formerly by colossal statues.
me statues. which now lie prone and scattered
about. were executed by ancient sculptors
whose art has persisted with them. They loft
memorials not only In the shape OF such
statues. but on tho very rocks OF the island.
which are carved with strange and fantastic
Images OF mythical animals. human faces.
birds. fishes. &c. Within tho caves and on
the walls and ceilings OF houses built Of slabs
OF stone. are the most curious frescoes in red.
black. and white pigments
Up in tho mountains arc traces OF the work.
shops of tho sculptors. Inside Of q huge crater
Is one OF the statue factories. where the cflges
may be seen In all stages OF incompletion.
from the rude outline drawing on the rock to
the finished work OF art. ready to be cut loose
and taken away. The biggest OF them Ia sew
enty feet in height. the head alone measuring
twenty eight feet and 1t is in as perfect condi-
tion rs when it was completed. Within the
crater are ninety-three statues OF various
sizes. and forty OF them arc finished and ready
to be transported to the burial platforms which
they were designed to adorn. 1t Is known now
that the first process in carving one of these
upon it tho outline o: the proposed statue.
The front of it was then carved into shape and
0nishrd. the nst work being to Ont the hack
loose twas then hoisted out OF the crater
and lowered to the plain below by O system Of
chocks and wedges. after which road was
with seaweeds. and over tina. tho colossus
men as we're needed Finally it was rolled up
on an incline at the rear o. sne Platform and
se. IN p'ace 'aeie 90 sie". ,ea' ~, VI ensaee.
ing was involved that one Is lost in wonder at
the patience and ingenuity OF savages who
wcre nhla to accomnlisb If without either ma.
were "o,e W accoinptsn J.. WHOM. ''I ne me-
erage weight of the images Is about twelve
tons. hut some Of them weigh as much as forty
tons each They we're transported over hill
distance Of many miles
The interior OF the volcanic crater has ter
races. ono above the other. where the quarry
ing OF the stone giants was zone. OUTSIDE OF
a bigger work shop. where los statues arc to be
os,n ;noIrdirc those which stond NJ tho foot
seen . iheiuu'hs tlose "ihlch '.ano d. 'no ioo'
OF the volcano. ready for removal to the plat
forms To form an estimate OF the magnitude
VI VIC apor peilorheu Wy s,,s iiiase hia y,
the expedition counted oil ofthe efhgles on the
the nlatiorms aloSc the shore NOT one bein o
tt n,n anH;Is nv, ,",y rnn -. o 70 anotterad
nwer tSa niain tnward IVA viIingo ~ sih al
NV, w tI nai' wnw.ard rhat soon atron ."
N.Y. uow , or,d "Ho sfviIs 81 n
hnmIad IN S us 'ney Guua nu na vomG +bn
S"me Of y the statnes ranrnscnt tsmnIes Dnnhf.
sss ef u t lava Was seeeted tse
@uSe IL was w%rhea th wn rqae or STONE tne
nrts of e =" 'e mt is tbrnat Ing
mar mat oi GuItins eUots aoGtls ls throa'. anu
nn ay ana M 70 th
tor NJ t" M,e ~ m n.n y it ~. "o'' 'Ao
t pr no Sa9r b o h 5s smns ants
were gods. but it IS known now that they rep.
resent persons Of distinction and and were set up
a Monuments 10 fl n b
Al are very nueI M!the. enc,t DsihR 'ne upPe.
MAit OF a nuinnm nGure. guy OH ~ the ntps ,.
Inc faces are OF an naavaryins type; with hsavE
,oms m4ss: an t sors 70 I hpd Up
inc ogies: d w t IN POSITION. nad MASSIVE