708 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



ations, was spoken of by them, and was attributed to walking barefoot 

 over certain running vines usually growing among tlie rocks at the sea- 

 side. On reaeliing such places they seemed to avoid them, but nothing 

 definite or reliable was elicited, and subsequent inquiries were over- 

 looked in the hurry of departure. 



VILLAGES AND HABITATIONS. 



The villages on the island are three in number, ITanga-roa, near the 

 bay of the same name, on the western side; Mataveri, within a mile of 

 the former, and Vaihu, near Cape Hoe-Hoe, on the southerly coast of the 

 island. Much the larger part of the population is gathered in the two 

 villages first mentioned, between which the people are about equally 

 distributed. At the first named is the church of the Catholic mission. 



About a half mile south of Mataveri, near the base of Raua Kao, and 

 separated from it by the most distinctive valley on the island, is the 

 residence of Mr. Brander, the first erected and by far the largest, 

 roomiest, and most convenient; modern-built, of wood, with lofty ceil- 

 ings, and porches, and shade trees growing about it. It is, however, 

 in a sad state of rei^air, and the evidences of neglect and thriftlessness 

 are apparent everywhere. 



Vaihu, which can no longer be called a village, is about 4i miles to 

 the eastward of Mataveri. It was at one time a Catholic mission, and 

 the church and parsonage, still in a fair state of preservation, yet 

 remain, together with a few outbuildings, all of which are occupied by 

 Mr. Salmon and his employees, perhaps a dozen in all. Divine serv- 

 ice, under the leadership) of native "missionaries," is still held in one 

 portion of the church, while the remainder is appropriated to other 

 purposes, mainly for the storage of wool, obtained from the sheep, con- 

 siderable quantities of which are shipped to Tahiti. 



The habitations of the ancient image and platform builders, the 

 stone huts on Raua Kao, will be described in other reports. 



Until quite recently the house of the modern Rapa Nuiis were some- 

 what similar to those of the Fijians, being rectangular in shape, about 

 C to 8 feet wide by 10 to 15 feet long, with nearly perpendicular sides, 

 peak-roofed lengthwise, door on side, and thatched all over. 



A few years since an Oregon lumber vessel was wrecked on the island 

 and much of her cargo, which consisted of boards, scantling, etc., was 

 brought ashore. Of these, under suitable instruction, the natives built 

 themselves houses, and nearly all are now domiciled in comparatively 

 modern style habitations and far more comfortably than formerly. 

 These houses, which after all have a very forlorn look, are from 15 to 20 

 or more feet long by from 10 to 15 feet wide. The weatherboards are 

 neatly fitted to the frame of scantling, and they are covered with a board 

 roof There are usually two doors hinged opposite each other on the 

 long sides of tlie house, and a small window or two close by the 

 entrances, and sometimes glazed, admit a feeble light when the doors 

 are closed. 



