1825 



56 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, were actuated by religious motives in their construe- 

 ^^w tion ; and yet, if it were so, why were these objects 

 Nov. f adoration suffered to go to decay by succeeding 

 generations? Is it that the religious forms of the 

 islanders have changed, or that the aborigines have 

 died off, and been succeeded by a new race ? — Pit- 

 cairn Island affords a curious example of a race of 

 men settling upon an island, erecting stone images 

 upon its heights, and either becoming extinct or 

 having abandoned it ; and some circumstances con- 

 nected with Easter Island occur, independent of 

 that above alluded to, in favour of the presumption 

 that the same thing may also have taken place there. 

 The most remarkable of these facts is, that the pre- 

 sent generation are so nearly allied in language and 

 customs to many islands in the South Sea, as to 

 leave no doubt of their having migrated from some 

 of them, — and yet in none of these places are there 

 images of such extraordinary dimensions, or indeed 

 in any way resembling them. The Easter Islanders 

 have, besides, small wooden deities similar to those 

 used by the inhabitants of the other islands just 

 mentioned. 



That there had been recent migrations from some of 

 the islands to the westward, about Roggewein's time, 

 may be inferred from the natives having recognised 

 the animals on board his ship, and from their having 

 hogs tattooed upon their arms and breasts ; whereas 

 there was not a quadruped upon the island at the 

 time, nor has any one except the rat ever been seen 

 there. Another curious fact connected with this 

 island is, that when it was first discovered it abound- 

 ed in woods and forests, and palm branches were 

 presented as emblems of peace ; but fifty years after- 



