S CARI. SKOIISBEKG 



The dwarf trees now cxistiiiL; are, as has already been stated, almost 

 wholly confined to the crater of Rano Kao and are on the verge of extinction. 

 They ^row not far from the lake, where the steep slope is covered with very 

 larj^e blocks, which prevent the sheep from reaching them. Mr. EDMUNDS told 

 me about some trees which grow along the steep bluff of the eastern headland; 

 unfortunatls', we were prevented from visiting the place, what I hope some 

 future naturalist will do. 



The greatest part of the island is covered with grass, widespread species, 

 either Polynesian or introduced from the old world via Chile, Tahiti or other 

 places. Occasionally ferns arc found, also outside \.\\c x^no, Microlcpia strigosa 

 being the most common. We discovered two species of Ophioglossum, to which 

 the natives attribute medicinal (jualities. Among the cryptogams are some 

 endemic species. A detailed account of the Flora will appear in the volume 

 dedicated to the Botany of the expedition. 



The terrestrial Fauna is very poor; no indigenous mammals or land birds 

 are known. There are two species of lizards, both of wide range. The insect 

 fauna is remarkably poor; some species have been introduced by man, e. g. 

 cockroaches and flies, which have increased enormously. 



ARCIIAKOI.OGICAL REMAINS: THE AHU 



Tliese structures, the burial-places — but not the only ones — of the is- 

 landers, liave been called » terraces* by most authors. Such a word tells us 

 very little, while the word ahu is a proper technical term, strongly and justly 

 recommended by Mrs. RoUTLEDCH-: for regular use. 



There are several kinds of ahu. The most striking is the image-ahu, 

 which carried the now fallen statues of stone. We know that all the images 

 were purposely u{)set as a result of internal warfare. During our staty in La 

 Tcrouse Hay we devoted some time to the inspection of the ahu. One not far 

 from the landing-{)lace, close to the beach, was said to be one of the best 

 preserved, although not one of the largest and having supported one statue 

 only. 'Ihis ahu was measured and described (see Plates 3-4 and text fig. l). 

 The central part is 23,; m. long and protrudes 4 m. in front of the wings; as 

 it stands on somewhat higher ground, it rises above the wings, in spite of the 

 front wall being rather low or, about 1,35 m. The front wall has a foundation 

 of small stones and flat slabs, followed by large, very well wrought blocks; 

 one of these was 2,3 m. long, o,y high, and 0,45 broad, another 2,45 long and 

 I in high. They are closely (itted. The space behind this wall was filled 

 with bouUkrs, the surface paved with larger, flat stones, making a level 

 platform. ^ 



I he wings are larger than the centre, the cast 31,3, the west 32 m., giving 

 as total length of the ahu 86,7 m. Their front wall is as high as or even 

 higher (about 2 m) than that f)f the centre and is similar in construction, 

 without being so neatly finished. The central part of the ahu, behind the plat- 

 form, had been disturbed, a stone wall of 7,6 m. .stretching obliquely along the 

 fallen image. Ihe aim sl()i)cs gently inwards. This .slope, which could be 



