NOTES ON A VJSIT TO EASTER ISLAND 



traced inland about 12 m. (measured from the front wall), is divided by a wall 

 (not visible above the surface), as described and figured by Mrs. R. The sea- 

 ward part has a surface of boulders almost free from vegetation, while behind 

 the dividing-line it looks like an old pavement with grass between the stones. 

 According to Mrs. R., the vaults for bones are found in this part. In the case 

 in question an open vault was to be seen in the seaward part of the west 

 wing; it measured 1,9 X 0,7 m. with a depth of i m. Two slabs had covered 

 it. We do not know if the ahu were built with many vaults, or if accomoda- 

 tions for the bones of the deceased were arranged on each occasion. 





I ' '  ' (K M 1/ 1(1 I U '!'<(/ ■. 





Fig. I. Diagrammatic sketch of an ahu west of the landing-place in La Perouse Bay. 

 Scale I : 750. s fallen image, /i hat, 7/1 stone- wall, ^ vault. 



In the centre of the front platform one large image or moai had stood 

 (Plate 4). It had been brought down by undermining the foundation stone. 

 This moai was the only one carefully measured: 



Total length 10,27 ni. 

 Length of body 6,55 m. 



» » head 2,52 m. 



» » neck 1,2 m. 



Width of body at base 2,y m. 

 Thickness of body at base 1,6 m. 



Width across shoulders 3,2 m. 



» » head 2,6 m. 



» » neck 1,9 m. 



Circumference round shoulders 7,9 m. 



» » neck 5,2 m. 



Length of ear 2,4 m. 



Close by, the hat or crown rested flat upon the ground; its height was 

 1,85, its circumference 7, the greatest and smallest diameters 2,5 and 1,85 m., 

 respectively. It is of the usual red stone from Punapau, but not finished. The 

 finished hat had a knob on top and an oval depression below; this one showed 

 neither on the exposed side. According to Mrs. R. the hats were finished after 

 having arrived at the ahu; I suppose this one never adorned the image. Could 

 it not be possible that the stone wall spoken of above was part of a construc- 

 tion on which the hat was to be rolled up to the top of the image.? 



Naturally, I have tried to identify the ahu described here with one of 

 those mentioned by Mrs. R. Its position at once suggested the Faro, of which 

 a sketch is communicated by Mrs. R. As far as I can see, this must be the 

 same (if so, it will undoubtedly be recognized by Mrs. R. from my photographs), 

 but there are some differences that I am unable to account for. In the sketch, 

 there is no trace of the stone wall alongside the image, the two parts of this 

 latter are far too much apart, and the hat seems to rest on its cylindrical 

 side. Then, there is the size of the image: Mrs. R. gives 32 feet, adding 



