APPENDIX. 

 SUNDRY NOTICES OF THE ISLAND. 



It has seemed advisable in this appendix to present a number of 

 reports upon the discovery and condition of the island. It is not pre- 

 tended that this shall be a complete collection of the geographical liter- 

 ature of the subject, scanty though that is. But it does appear that a 

 service will be rendered students of the interesting and difficult prob- 

 lems which cluster about this arid rock in the remote sea if a few of the 

 notices of geographers are here collected for convenience of reference. 

 This is all the more true since the records here offered are but brief 

 mention in seldom accessible books. 



[From "A narrative of voyages and travels in the northern and southern hemispheres, com- 

 prising three voyages round the world; together with a voyage of survey and dis- 

 covery in the Pacific Ocean and oriental islands." By Amasa Delano. Boston: 

 1817. Page 355.] 



The center of Easter Island lies in latitude 27 15' south, and longitude 

 109 55' west, by our observations. We fell in with the northeast part of it, 

 and run within two miles of the shore, the greater part of the north side, all 

 the west side and part of the south side of it. The east end forms a kind of 

 bluff point, and immediately to the northward of that is the appearance of a 

 large bay; but as the wind was blowing directly on this part of the island, 

 I did not think it prudent to approach too near with the ship; but it is my 

 opinion that it affords good landing for boats at least. From the north 

 extremity of this bay the land trends about west-by-south to another large 

 bluff head, which is very high land. Off this lie two small islands, or rocks, 

 one mile distant. One of them makes very much like a sail at a distance. 

 From this the land extends nearly southeast. We did not observe any danger 

 from the shore on any part of the island. 



We saw a number of statues representing human forms, of a very large size. 

 I should suppose them to be upwards of twenty feet high, and very large in 

 proportion to their height. Captain Cook says they are made of stone ; but 

 he does not mention so many as we saw, nor so many inhabitants. It is my 

 opinion they have populated fast since Captain Cook visited the place, and 

 that they have built many of those statues and other buildings. We saw a 

 large kind of house near the shore that must have been two hundred feet long; 

 and also many more of different forms. The most common form that we saw 

 was like a haycock. Some appeared to be built with stone, and others thatched 

 over. When we came abreast the place where Captain Cook recommends it 

 as best to anchor, that being on its northwest extreme, we prepared a boat 

 and made an attempt to land; but on our approach near the shore we found 

 the surf was so bad that it was not in our power to effect it. The natives came 

 down in great numbers, and made friendly signs to invite us on shore, holding 



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