192 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



so it would seem that no absolute " census " can 

 be given with any accuracy. 



It is said that in 1863 the depredations of slavers 

 had reduced the population to one-half, and later an 

 epidemic of measles wrought further havoc, so that 

 by 1868 only some 900 inhabitants remained. In 

 1872 there were only 295, and ten years later only 

 150, while at the time of our visit the population 

 was not more than 100. Of these several informed 

 us that they had all been imported from Tahiti, to 

 work at the sheep and cattle which are now bred 

 on the island. It has been stated that after the 

 epidemic of measles, between 1863-68, the 

 remainder of the population was carried off to a 

 Mission Station. Therefore it would seem that our 

 informants were correct, and that the present 

 population of Easter Island are "imported." 



When we arrived the weather was rough, and 

 we were unable to lower a boat, and but for the 

 fact that Lord Crawford had taken the mails 

 from Valparaiso for the inhabitants, we should 

 no doubt have sailed away without landing. 

 Fortunately, however, the people on shore saw 

 the yacht, and sent a surf-boat out to us, and by 

 this means we were able to go ashore. 



We were only there a very short time, and in 

 consequence were unable to see many of the 

 interesting caves and carvings which abound on 

 the island ; and this was especially unfortunate, 

 as practically nothing is known of the former 



