Remarks on Phallic Stones from Rapanui. 



Mr. J. L. Young, whose knowledge of the southeastern Pacific 

 is very extensive, loaned the Direcflor of this Museuni the stone 

 which he has described as follows : 



These obje(5ls are generally of a more or less disc-like shape, 

 weighing four or five pounds each ; are composed of hard close- 

 grained stone, and are covered on both sides with rudely carved 

 conventionalized representations of the female vulva. They are 

 called by the natives of Rapanui "Maea momoa" (niaea = .stone ; 

 momoa ^ descendants, family); also called "Maea hika" (hika^ 

 clitoris), (cf. Maori — momoa = offspring ; and hika to rub: to 

 make fire by rubbing.) One of these stones is shown in Fig. 4, 

 Plate LI, between pp. 534 and 535 of Smithsonian Report, U.S. 

 National Museum, 1889 ; and on page 537, Ibid, are .some remarks 

 concerning it. But a curious error was made by the of^cers of the 

 U . vS. vS. Mohican, for both references on page 537 under the head of 

 "Fish God" (Mea ika) and "Fowl God" (Mea moa) apply to the 

 same stone, the "Maea momoa." The remarks are substantially 

 correct : the .stones were more prized than any other object, it being 

 claimed that they had been brought by Hoatumetua, the pioneer 

 chief, from the, as yet, unidentified "Maraetoehau." It is also true 

 that the stones were — but of late 3'ears only — placed under domestic 

 fowls with the idea that the fertility of the eggs was thus promoted. 

 It is stated by the few old men who profess to remember the ancient 

 traditions, that since the kidnapping of the learned men by the 

 Peruvian slavers in 1864, the younger generation have lost their 

 respect for the sacred stones, and only in a vague manner felt that 

 they were in some way connedled with the reprodu(5tion of life : 

 hence their use under the fowls. Doubtless also the influence of the 

 missionaries was against the preservation of the ancient rites. 



It is said by some of the old men, who until lately resided in 

 Tahiti, that these stones were u.sed in the ceremony of "Hakatoro 

 repe" Hakatoro=to cause to .stretch, to elongate : Repe:^ clitoris); 

 also called by one old man "Hakatoro matakaho" (matakaho:^: 

 clitoris). This rite was pracfticed on girls shortly before they 

 arrived at puberty. A similar rite was in use at the Marquesas 



[171] (31) 



