224 



WAIHU, OR EASTER ISLAND. — SALA Y 

 GOMEZ.* 



VV E but barely set our feet on tlie lava beach of 

 Easter Island, and do not flatter ourselves with 

 considerably extending the knowledge the reader 

 may already have of it. We refer to the reports of 

 our predecessors, and only try to give him an ac- 

 count of the impression which the transient view 

 of it made upon us. 



Easter Island rises majestically out of the waves, 

 in a triangular form, swelling into pyramidical 

 mountains. 



It represents in miniature the regular large lines 

 of Owhyee. It appears to be covered every where 

 with the liveliest green : the ground, even on 

 the steepest declivities of the mountains, is divided 

 in regular fields, which are distinguished by 

 various lively colours, and many of which were 

 covered with yellow blossoms. We gazed with 

 astonishment at this volcanic earth covered with 

 stone, which is notorious for its want of w^ood and 

 w'ater. 



We believe we have distinguished on the south- 

 east coast, by the aid of our telescopes, some of the 



* Krusenstern's Contributions to Hydrograijhy, p. 219. 



