TE PITO TE HENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND. 



479 



are roofed with slabs of rock of sufficient length to span the side walls, 

 showing that no particular care had been exercised to form close joiuts! 

 Over this stoue ceiling t lie earth was piled in mound- shape, reaching 

 a depth in the center of from 1 t<» <i feet, and covered by a sod that 

 afforded ample protection from raiu. The floors were the hare earth, 

 and the interiors were damp and moldy from insufficient ventilation 

 afforded by the single contracted opening. 



An accurate measurement of these remarkable structures gave the 

 average height from floor to ceiling -1- feet (> inches; thickness of 

 walls, 1 feet to 10 inches; width of rooms, 1 feet <> inches; length of 

 rooms, L2 feet inches; average size of doorways, height 20 inches, 

 width 19 inches. In making the survey of Orongo the houses were 



■■:'-. <f>. 





SG©\cv(\ v toiYAs. 



Pig', a. 

 Orongo. 



numbered from 1 to 49, inclusive, commencing al the inshore extremity 

 (Fig. 0). While in the majority of instances the interior dimensions 

 were considerably below the average given above, several of the houses 

 exceeded fhose limits, particularly in the length of the rooms. The 



