SKULLS 197 



to make room for further burials, leaving only the 

 skulls. It seems strange, therefore, that the natives 

 should have told us that the bones were there 

 before the island became re-inhabited ; also that 

 we should have found but one skull in each 

 " platform." 



After a careful examination of the skulls brought 

 back by us, IVIr. Joyce finds in them distinct evi- 

 dences of a Melanesian type, and he naturally 

 describes this as a most surprising find in an 

 island so far removed from Melanesia; his words 

 are, " and considering the remoteness of Easter 

 Island from Melanesia of the present day, this fact 

 in itself is sufficiently puzzling and interesting." 



We were informed by the overseer of the island 

 that the present inhabitants were imported from 

 Tahiti,* and if this be the case it is difficult to 

 account for the presence of Melanesian types in 

 the skuUs found on the island, unless, indeed, 

 many of these skulls are really those belonging to 

 the former inhabitants. 



The huge images set up on a platform of stones, 

 arranged so as to form a covered chamber or 

 vault, seem to point to these having been in- 

 tended to mark a burial place. In fact, it is 

 difficult to imagine for what other purpose they 

 were erected. 



The portions of skulls from which the accom- 



* The present inliabitants are in appearance piire-bred Polynesians 

 and possess the handsome features of the Tahitians, 



P 



