TE P1T0 IK llt.MA, OE EASTER ISLAM*. 541 



took place in the social and mental culture of the people as they rami- 

 fied eastward through tlie various islands of the Pacific. Detachments 

 arriving at the different groups separated into distinct communities as 

 accident or fancy directed : here they became segregated, and rapidly 



degenerated in knowledge and in the arts. 



Starting with the Sandwich Islands, we lind that the Hawaiian pre- 

 historic remains are confined to the most primitive forms of structures, 

 such as the remains of the pagan temple at Waikiki, and the enormous 

 heiau at Punepa near Iolo, both of which are notable types of walled 

 inclosures, and also the catacombs of Waimea, which do not greatly 

 differ from some of the places of sepulture in other islands. 



Farther to the South and West, the Marquesas and Society groups 

 show nothing beyond the primitive works of people who have passed 

 away ages ago, leaving no other signs of their having existed. 



The island of Eapa-titi, in mid Pacific and just outside the tropics, 

 contains evidences of a numerous population at some remote period. 

 The island is remarkably mountainous, though quite small, with pinna- 

 cles rising to the height of 2,000 feet, and precipitous cliffs jutting into 

 the sea. Massive forts commaud all the principal valleys; they are 

 constructed of stone; built in terraces; and furnished with towers for 

 observation and rallying points.* 



In the Friendly Islands are found some interesting relics of antiquity. 

 Near the ancient metropolis of Moa, on the island of Tongatabu, and 

 about 1 Li miles from Nukualofa, the present capital of the group, arc 

 the graves of the Tui-Tongas. 



These embrace nineteen truncated pyramids, measuring about 100 feet 

 square on the base lines, and rising in three terraces to a height of 25 

 feet. The stones used in their construction are of coral concrete, and 

 many of the huge blocks arc 18 feet long by 5£ feet high and 3 feet 

 thick, and weigh fully 20 tons each. 



The labor of building these tombs was enormous, and when it is con- 

 sidered that the great blocks were cut from the coral reef about .'! miles 

 distant, and transported to the spot by savages who were ignorant of the 

 laws of mechanics, and who were without appliances, we can not fail to 

 be. lost in wonder at the magnitude of the work accomplished. These 

 pyramids are of various ages, extending over a period of twelve hun- 

 dred and fifty years. They are overgrown by a dense forest of fao and 

 banyan trees, of immense size and great age, t be roots of which have dis- 

 lodged and thrown down some of the largest stones. The Tui-Tongas 

 were high-priests and their genealogy has been carefully preserved. 



* In 1867, tli«' French purchased the sovereignty of tlm little island for a gallon of 

 run i and some <>I<1 clothes, thus cutting out a prospective American Steam-ship Com- 

 pany t Ii.it had fixed upon it for a coal depot. Coal is found here in small quantities, 



and this fact lias been adduced In support of the theorj ofa sul >rged contineul in 



the Pacific, a fallacy evident to the geologist. Although there are several haj 

 landing may he made at any poiul owing t<> the remarkable Bmoothuess of the sea. 

 The people bear a close resemblance to tin- New Zealauders. 



