extraordinary, when it is remembered that Easter Island, which is much
move distant from the eastern world, was so, though nothing is known
of the fate of the people.
From these images, and the large piles of stones on heights to
which they must have been dragged with great labour, it may be concluded
that the island was inhabited a considerable time; and from
bones being found always buried under these piles, and never upon the
surface, we may presume that those who survived quitted the island in
their canoes to seek an asylum elsewhere.
Having this day seen every part of the island, we had no further
desire to ramble; and as the weather did not promise to be very fair, I
left the observatory in the charge of Jlr. YY"olfe, and embarked, accompanied
by old Adams. Soon after he came on hoard it began to blow,
and for several days afterw'ards the wind prevented any communication
with the shore. The natives during this period were in great apprehension
; they went to the top of the island every morning to look for
the sh ip ; and once, when she was not to be seen, began to entertain
the most serious doubts w'hether Adams would be returned to them ;
but he, knowing we should close the island as soon as the weather would
permit, was rather glad of the opportunity of remaining on board, and
of again associating with his countrymen. x\nd although he had passed
his sixty-fifth year, joined in the dances and songs of the forecastle, and
was ahvays cheerful.
On the l6th the weather permitted a boat to be sent on shore, and
Adams was restored to his anxious friends. Previous to quitting the
ship, he said it would add much to his happiness if 1 would read the
marriage ceremony to him and his wife, as he could not bear the idea
of living with her without its being done. He had long wished for
the arrival of a ship of w'ar to set his conscience at rest on that point.
Though Adams was aged, and the old w'oraan had been blind and bedridden
for several years, he made such a point of it, that it would have
been cruel to refuse him. They were accordingly the next day duly
united, and the event noted in a register by John liuffet.
The islanders were delighted at having us again among them,
and expressed themselves in the warmest terms. We soon found,
through our intercourse with these excellent people, that they had no C H .tP .
wants excepting such as had been created by an intercourse with U L +
vessels, which have from time to time supplied them with European
Dec.
articles. Nature has been extremely bountiful to them; and necessity
IS25.
has taught them how to apply her gifts to their own particular uses.
Still they have before them the prospect of an increasing population,
with limited means of supporting it. Almost every part of the island
capable of cultivation has been turned to account; but what w'ould
have been the consequences of this increase, had not an accident discovered
their situation, it is not difficult to foresee; and a reflecting mind
will naturally trace in that disclosure the benign interference of the
same hand which has raised such a virtuous colony from so guilty a
stock. Adams having contemplated the situation which the islanders
would have been reduced to, begged, at our first interview, that 1
would communicate with the government upon the subject, which was
done; and I am happy to say that, through the interference of the
Admiralty and Colonial Office, means have been taken for removing
them to any place they may choose for themselves; and a liberal supply
of useful articles has recently been sent to them.
Some books of travels which were left from time to time on the
island, and the accounts they had heard of foreign countries from their
visiters, has created in the islanders a strong desire to leave it. The
idea of passing all their days upon an island only two miles long,
without seeing any thing of the world, or, wliat was a stronger argument,
without doing any good in it, had with several of them been
deeply considered. But family ties, and an ardent affection for each
other, and for their native soil, had always interposed to prevent their
going away singly. George Adams, however, having no wife to detain
him, but, on the contrary, reasons for wishing to employ his thoughts
on subjects foreign to his home, was very anxious to embark in the
Blossom ; and I would have acceded to his wishes, had not his mother
wept bitterly at the idea of parting from him, and imposed terras
touching his return to the island to which I could not accede. It
was a sore disappointment to poor George, whose case forms a striking