The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-02-07


of land, about one-fourth the size OF Barbados
and yet surrounded by a charm of mystery pos
sessed by few places in the world
The island merged into the clear light OF MS
tory early in the eighteenth century, when 1t was
discovered by the Dutch captain, Jacob Rogge-
veen in 1922. He gave to the island its present
name in commemoration of the day on which
land was sighted Some so years later 1t was
"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 opportuni.
ties for expeditions for years to come
Geographically considered it lies 81 degrees so
minutes south of the equator so that it is not
actually within the tropics Its position is about
1000 miles from the mainland of South America,
and 400 miles distant from its nearest neigh
Dor the Pitcairn Islands. Within its limited
area triangular in shape, there three craterS
of extinct volcanoes of them nearly 1000 feet
high Some of the soil is fertile and the island
appears to have been wooded at time, for
decayed trunks of considerable size are still
found; now however. there thrive only few
bushes from 10 TO y 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 are reared
by the few hundred inhabitants, the sole jewellers
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 some
brackish springs by the seashore and pools in
side the craters of the volcanoes. All in all
however the island is considered salubrious and
heathful
The chief interest of the island is to be found
in the wonderful statues and other amazing
archaeological remains In its and
fined expanse it encompasses a mystery of vast
proportons-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
scuiptured statues colossal in size. and erected
upon Cycopean masonry: stone houses over 100
feet in length with walls six feet in thickness
built like forts; and tablets curiously inscribed
with hieroglyphics in way resembling any
thing else In the world, doubtless the written
language of the ancient inhabitants, but to
which the key has been lost
Remarkable as all of these ruins are from the
strangeness of their appearance the greatest in
terest and the greatest problem which they pre-
sent to is the story that they might tell OF the
vanished civilization which erected them. That
they of prehistoric origin not be ques-
toned but who the builders of these won
derfu specimens? What race of men or giants
carved and placed in their present position the
titanic stone heads that stand out in lonely
1esty amid the barren wastes of this lonely little
isle? Whence came these ancient wUrSers in
stone and whittier have they gone? What tools
did they use to execute these singular statues
and buildings and 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 a while longer
to delve 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 are
comparatively few in number, ard not conspicu-
ously definite in context. Conjectures are as
many as there explorers. and the number of
opinions ventured varies in the same ratio Prog
ress, in all matters of science. is necessarily
Glow But let stop for a moment to examine
these statues, and platforms. and relics. which
have excited the student world, and to see what