NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



181 



it. The descriptions in Prescott's "Mexico" of the floating islands 

 in the ancient capital came at once to mind. These Aztec gardens 

 could be moved at will like rafts, whereas in Rano Kao the lake 

 is literally choked. This great garden rises and falls with the 

 level of the lake, which is about half way from the rim to sea- 

 level. Toward the sea the rim has been greatly worn away, 



Ancient Rock-carvings 



On the rim of Rano Kao Crater — the present inhabitants can give no account of the 

 race which made these decorations. 



and in some distant period, Easter Island will boast a crater- 

 harbor like Pago Pago. 



The party divided on the skyline near some carved rocks. 

 Soule, Seiwell, and Paul decided to approach the prehistoric cave- 

 dwellings on the seaward rim of the crater, by descending to the 

 lake-level and up the rocky slope inside. The others went on 

 around the top. Passing showers made the mud and boulders 

 slippery, and the going was tedious. At the lake-level we found 

 here and there a cluster of banana or fig-trees, and from the shore 



