3 0 V O Y A G E TO T H E
to Easter Island; and that Davis acquainted Dampier with the situation
of Iris discovery, which agreed with that contained in Wafer’s account.
The alteration in a figure, it must be admitted, is rather arbitrary, as
it has nothing to support it but the circumstance of the number of
islands being the same. A mistake certainly might have occurred, but in
the admission of it either party may claim it as an advantage by interpreting
the presumed error in a way which would support their own
opinions.
At four o’clock in the afternoon of the 16th of November, the land
in question was seen from the mast head, bearing N. 78“ YV. (Y'lag.)
fourteen or sixteen leagues, and we were consequently very nearly in
the situation of the long looked for, small, sandy island, which, had it
existed within reasonable limits of its supposed place, could not have
escaped our observation. Nothing of it however was seen, nor had we
any indication of the vicinity of such a spot as we proceeded, though we
must have actually passed over the place assigned to it. Easter Island had
at first the appearance of being divided into two, rather flat at the top,
with rounded capes ; the north-eastern of which is distinguished by
two hillocks. To avoid over-running the distance, the ship was hove to
at night, and at daylight on the following morning vve bore up for
the northern shore of the island. I preferred that side, as it had been
but partially examined by Captain Cook, and not at all by M. La
Perouse.
As we approached, we observed numerous small craters rising
above the low land, and near the N. E. extremity, one of considerable
extent, with a deep chasm in its eastern side. None of these
were in action, nor indeed did they appear to have been so for a
very long time, as, with the exception of the one above-mentioned, they
were covered with verdure. The N . E. promontory, already noticed
as having two small hillocks upon it, was composed of horizontal strata,
apparently of volcanic origin ; and near it, some patches of earth,
sloping down to the cliff, were supposed to consist of red scoriae. The
hills, and exposed parts of the earth, were overgrown with a short
burnt-up grass, which gave the surface a monotonous and arid aspect;
but the valleys were well cultivated, and showed that the island requires
only a due proportion of moisture and labour to produce a luxuriant CH.AP.
vegetation.
Passing along the northern shore, we saw several of those extensive
habitations which M. La Perouse has described, situated in a vaUey,
surrounded by groves of banana trees and other patches of cultivation.
The larger huts were placed near the wood, and the smaller
ones close together outside them. Nearer the sea-shore, which here
forms a bay, was a morai, surmounted by four images standing upon a
long low platform, precisely answering the description and representation
of one given by Perouse ; and also an immense enclosure of stones,
and several large piles, which, as well as the images, were capped with
something white, a circumstance noticed both by Captain Cook and
M. Perouse.
The greatest attention appeared to be paid to the cultivation ot
the soil. Such places as were not immediately exposed to the scorching
rays of the sun were laid out in oblong strips, taking the direction of
the ravines; and furrows were ploughed at right angles to them, for the
purpose of intercepting the streams of water in their descent. Near
the middle of the small bay just mentioned, tliere was an extinguished
crater, the side of which fronting the sea had fallen in. 'Ihe natives
availing themselves of this natural reservoir for moisture, in wliich
other parts of the island are so deficient, had cultivated the soil in its
centre, and reared a grove of banana-trees, which, as we passed, had
a very pleasing effect. The natives lighted fires, and followed the ship
along the coast, their numbers increasing at every step. Some had a
white cloth thrown loosely over their shoulders, but by far the greater
number were naked, with the exception of the Maro.
YVhen the ship had arrived off the N. YY’. point of the island, she was
hove to for the purpose of taking observations ; and a boat was lowered
to examine the bays, and obtain soundings near the shore. Immediately
she put off, the natives collected about the place where they supposed
she would land. The sea broke heavily upon the rocks, and some of
them apprehending the boat would be damaged, waved their cloaks to
caution her against making the attempt to land; while others, eager
i!|i
’n il
‘4