Charlevoix county herald., 1913-03-01

EgN "A ton OF Easter Island, the unsolveo
~ 10 mystery OF the Pacific. For an
lWFM INK other time the attention OF archae-
E4 50 ologists and students OF antiquity
| W. 4 Is focused on this little spot tne
- most easterly OF the Polyneslan
ITSH>SATT group of islands. Here, in the vast
LOI WI south Pacific ocean, lies this isle,
IE&SS@SbJ volcanic I'm character only AZ
square miles in area, mere speck
of land, about onefourth the size OF Barbados
and yet surrounded by charm or mystery pos
sessed by few places in the world.
The island merged into the clear light OF his
tory early in the eighteenth century, when II was
discovered by the Dutch captain Jacob Rogge-
veen in 1922. lie gave TO the island its present
name in commemoration OF the day on which
land was sighted Some so years later it
-rediscovered" by some Spanish sailors From
that time to the present day Easter Island has
been visited explored, and studied by noted
travellers, scientists, and investigators from all
lands and it promises to afford these opportun
ties for expeditions for years to come.
Geogra phicay considered, it lies p degrees 30
minutes south of the equator so that it is NOT
actually within the tropics. It's position is about
1000 miles from the mainland Of South America
and 400 miles distant from its nearest neigh
Dor the Pitcairn Islands. Within it's limited
area triangular I'm shape, thee are three craters
OF extinct volcanoes, OF them nearly 1000 feet
high Some Of the soil is fertile, and the island
appears co have been wooded at one time, for
found now, however, there thrive only few
bushes from 10 TO 10 feet high The natives
grow many sorts of tropical fruits including
bananas, sugar cane, and sweet potatoes. Goats
fowl, sheep and fair number Of cattle reared
by the few hundred inhabitants the sole dwellers
OF today In that mystic land The climate is
not unlike that Of Madeira with one wet and one
dry season The water supply consists OF
bracksh springs by the seashore and pools in
side the craters OF the volcanoes. All in ALL
however the island is considered salubrious and
healthful.
The chief interest Of the island is to be found
In the wonderful statues and other amazing
archaeological remains. In its narrow and con-
fined expanse 1t encompasses mystery Of vast
proportions-an egima that has taxed the in
genuity of scientists quite as much as did OF old
the far-famed riddle of the Sphinx. In this tiny
island is a remarkable display of hundreds OF
sculpturcd statues. colossal in size, and erected
upon Cyciopean masonry; stone houses over 100
feet in length with walls six feet in thickness
built like forts; and tablets curiously inscribed
with hierogyphics in way resembling any
thing else Ia the world, doubtless the written
language OF the ancient inhabitants. but to
which the key has been lost
Remarkable all or these ruins are from the
strangeness of their appearance the greatest In
terest and the greatest problem which they pre-
sent to US Is the story that they might tell of the
vanished civilization which erected them. That
they OF prehistoric origin can not be ques
TONED, but VINO were the builders of these won
derful specimens? What race of men or giants
carved and placed in their present position the
titanic stone heads that stand out in lonely ma
Jesty amid the barren wastes Of this lonely little
isle? Whence these ancient workers I'm
stone. and whittier have they gone? What tools
did they use to execute these singular statues
and buildings, md in what epoch did they per-
form these curiosities?
Such fascinating questions and many others
equally pertinent present themselves to the
student but alas. the answer is yet to be had
Archaeologists must continue for while longer
10 deve among the enshrouded mysteries OF
these ruins before they can reveal the true story
OF this worlds wonderland. At present the chap
ters which have been written the subject arc
comparatively few I'm number. and not conspicu-
ously definite I'm context Coniectures are as
many as there are explorers, and the number OF
opinions ventured varies In the same ratio. Prog
ress, In oil matters of science is necessarily
slow But let us stop for a moment to examine
these statues and platforms and relics which
have oTc,teJ tho studG.t world, AID TO see what