TK PITO TE 11 I'M A, OB EASTEK ISLAND. 507 



age stood projects beyond the line of the platform, and was higher. In 

 the rear, and extending the eutire length of the pile, is a broad terrace, 

 neatly paved with smooth round bowlders. The fragments of three im- 

 ages lie upon the terrace. 



Platform No. 49. — Called " Oneonepuhea ". Centralsection is about 

 15 feel long by 6 feet high. This is a crescenl shaped structure, and the 

 only one of the kind that we saw on the island. It is situated on the 

 extreme edge of the cliff, which at this point has a straight away fall of 

 over 500 feel to the sea, which dashes against its wall like base. There 

 is no image in sight, but a large pedestal stone, inclined at a sharp angle 

 towards the sea, shows where one has stood and suggests what became 

 of it. 



Platform X<>. 50. — Called "Ahutakaure". Located on Poike cliff, 

 facing westward; is small and unimportant ami in a state of complete 

 rain. On the east slope of the mountain we found an image, the head 

 of which had been broken off, but it lies near by. There is no platform 

 here and no indications that one was intended to be built in the vicinity; 

 so we concluded that the statue was being moved to some distant locality 

 when it was broken and abandoned. 



Platform Xo. 51 . — Called " Hangaiti " ; 30 feet long and 8 feet wide and 

 •1 feet high. In a bad condition and one small image broken. 



Platform Xo. 52. — Called "Tongariki"; 150 feet long, feet wide, and 

 S feet high (Plates XXX-XXX1V). Extreme length, including orig- 

 inal wings, 510 feet. This is the largest platform on the island, and 

 was ornamented with fifteen gigantic statues. These have been thrown 

 down upon their faces on the inshore side, and the most of these are 

 broken, the one on the south end being fractured across the middle of 

 the body, leaving the lower section still standing. The red tufa crowns 

 are lying a short distance away and are also much broken. The hard 

 stones of winch the sea front of this platform is constructed are of im- 

 mense size, faced and neatly joined together. One of the foundation- 

 stones in the center of this wall is of red tufa and represents a human 

 head. 



Our investigations were commenced at this point by throwing down 

 the facing-stones and working straight backwards through the plat- 

 form. The labor was great, and occupied the most of our force for nearly 

 two days, but the catacombs and tombs underlying the structure were 

 thoroughly examined. Under theeentral section are small, narrow pas- 

 sages forming a part of the original design, having been built up while 

 the platform was in process of construction, and containing human re- 

 mains. The oiliest of these tombs appear to have been sealed up before 

 the structure was completed, and the probability is that they were not 

 intended to be opened, from the fact that there is nothing to indicate 

 their exact locality. The pedestal-stones, all of which are still in place, 

 show that the images were put up at equal distances and with a view 

 to symmetry, and without regard to the position of the tombs; though 



