508 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



it is pretty well established that they were intended as effigies of chiefs 

 or distinguished persons. The terrace behind the platform was also 

 used as a burial-place, and contained remains of an ancient date. Suc- 

 ceeding generations have utilized the same places for the same purposes, 

 but there are passages under the platform that have never been opened 

 since the structure was built. The entire plain back of Tongariki Bay 

 is one vast cemetery, containing the decaying remains of thousands of 

 people. Every pile of stones, cave or ruined platform, house or cairn", 

 has been used as a tomb. The christianized natives of today still re- 

 gard this as a favorite burial-place. They have neither the ambition nor 

 the industry to construct tombs for themselves, but are content to place 

 their dead in receptacles filled with the remains of their ancestors. The 

 recess-angles between the bodies of the fallen images, and the platforms 

 upon which the base rests, are filled with remains of a recent date. 



Platform No. 53. — Called "One-tea". Completely in ruins. Three 

 images much broken. Foundation proper about 100 feet long. 



Platform No. 54. — Called "Opaarionga". Small and unimportant. 

 Central section 20 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Kemains of 

 one small image. 



Platform No. 55. — Called " Hangatufata"; 125 feet long, 8 feet wide, 

 and 7 feet high. Five images thrown down, broken and in bad con- 

 dition. 



Platform No. 56. — Called " Onemakihi". Central section 40 feet long, 

 7 feet wide, aud 7 feet high. Extreme length, including wings, 100 

 feet. One image much mutilated. 



Platform No. 57. — Called ' ; Punakape'\ Central section 40 feet loug, 



6 feet wide, and G feet high. Extreme length 80 feet. In ruins, and 

 no images. 



Platform No. 58.— Called " Moaitutahi ". Central section 150 feet 

 long, 7 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length 250 feet. Only 

 two images remain, but appearances indicate that others have been 

 destroyed. Upon terraces sloping towards the sea from the front are 

 numerous remains of image-builders' houses. From the back of the 

 structure a nicely paved way, 10 feet wide, extends inland for a dis- 

 tance of 200 yards. 



Platform No. 59. — Called " Hanga-mahihiku ". A mere mass of ruins, 

 and almost devoid of shape. No images. 



Platform No. 60. — Called "Ahuakoi". Central section 75 feet long, 



7 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Extreme length, 160 feet. In a bad con- 

 dition, and no images. 



Platform No. 61. — Called " Hanga-tutuki". A mere mass of ruins 

 covering human remains. 



Platform No. 62. — Called " Ahupoepoe". In same condition as the 

 last and without images. 



Platform No. 63. — Called " Vaimoai". Central section 40 feet long, 6 

 feet wide, and 8 feet high. Extreme length, 90 feet. In bad condition, 

 and no images. 



