NOTES ON A VISIT TO EASTER ISLAND 1 9 



THE FUTURE OF THE ISLAND 



The power of resistance of the Easter Island people was definitely crushed 

 through the Peruvian slave raids, and through missionaries and farmers they 

 lost the strength which lies in the possession of an aboriginal culture. Their 

 removal to Hanga Roa, where a village was formed, was very unlucky, as it 

 meant giving up many small plantations and induced the people to lead a 

 parasitic life, expecting everything from their new rulers. Although they have 

 left so many wonderful monuments to bear witness of earlier busy days and 

 of a people of warriors, they are now, with few exceptions, lazy beggars. In 

 part this may be due to their pronounced feelings of animosity against the 

 intruders, as they regard themselves as the true possessors of the island. It 

 appears that ever since the establishment of a farming company the state of 

 affairs has never been lucky, and Mrs. R. has an interesting tale to tell of an 

 anxious time. I do not at all believe that the present manager is to blame, 

 for we got the impression that he is as well liked as any white man in his 

 position can expect to be. In Chile, nobody seems to have taken much notice 

 of the distant colony till Bishop Edw.ards entered the field. During his first 

 visit, in 1916, he informed himself of the state of things, and he returned in 

 1917 invested with powers to put everything right if he could. Among other 

 things he wanted to take up war against the leprosy.^ Not quite 5 % of the 

 population suffer from this disease; they are confined to a colony some distance 

 from Hanga Roa. Apparently it is not very contagious, for the isolation is 

 not quite effective. The surgeon of the »Baquedano», Dr. G. LONGO, examined 

 almost every soul, but only one or two new cases were discovered. As acco- 

 modations for the most advanced cases had been wanting, the vessel this time 

 brought materials for the construction of a small hospital which was to be 

 erected by the new »subdelegado» or governor. Captain MERINO carried in- 

 structions to examine the claims against the company, and a meeting was held 

 where the natives put forth their demands. I understood that the Company 

 was said to have taken possession of more land than it was entitled to and 

 that the natives wanted it to be restored. Officers went round with natives 

 who indicated the seats of their former homes and fields, and parts of the land 

 were measured. The scheme was, I think, that certain parts should be restored 

 to the old owners, that the village should be abandoned, and that the natives 

 should move into »the camp» in order to become selfsustaining. A certain 

 amount of native labour should be granted to the manager at a fixed rate of 

 pay. I have had ho chance to learn how far the realisation of this humanitary 

 scheme has advanded; nor would I venture to foretell if it is likely to meet 

 with success. 



EASTER ISLAND AS A FIELD OF PSEUDOGEOGRAPHICAL SPECULATION 



Finally, I shall make a few remarks in addition to what Mrs. R. tells us 

 (p. 290) of the theosophists' views of Easter Island, which are based on errors 



^ The surgeon of the »Mohican», Dr. Cooke, does not mention this malady as existing 

 in the island in the year 1886. It was imported from Tahiti. 



