Easter Island. 



19 



the flinty beach pebble, known as maca keng--rengo. The images 

 were constructed of a stone called maca matariki, and the obsid- 

 ian, from which the spear heads were made, is known as maca 

 mataa. The spear heads of obsidian were roughly chipped and 

 varied in form. Nine different forms are given by Mr. Thomp- 

 son, some of which ae strikingly like in shape to the old battle- 

 axes of our early ancestors. These stone heads were lashed on 

 shafts eight feet long and formed the chief weapon of the ancient 

 islanders. They were thrown at a distance as well as used to 

 thrust with. These spear heads were got cl-yefly from old tombs 

 and caves. A few were found on old battle grounds. Tradition 

 imparts that the use of these stone spear heads was brought 

 about by an accident. The natives used to make ineffective 

 war armed with spears with heads of dried calabash. On account 

 of the character of the weapon they used to fight long 

 and desperately without much result. A man returning from a 

 hard and fruitless battle stepped on a stone that cut his foot. 

 He carried the stone home and discovered it to be a material 

 suited for spear heads- Weapons were at once made with points 

 CEREMONi^u paooLE of this material and the ene- 



PAODLE mies of the clan were quick- 



ly routed. Clubs from 

 four to six feet long made 

 of heavy wood are another 

 class of weapon or baton 

 shown in the collection. 

 The points of the clubs of 

 one class are slightly wid- 

 ened, and the handles are 

 ornamented with double 

 faced images. These were 

 the batons or badges of of- 

 fice of the chiefs, and the 

 handles were supposed to 

 represent the efifigy of the 

 owner of the club or one 

 of his illustrious ancestors. 

 The clubs used as weapons 

 of defense were from 20 to 

 30 inches in length and 

 "rom the handle are wid- 

 ened out into a broad 

 heavy blade. They were 

 used with great dexterity 

 in battle. A wand carried chiefly by the women in their dances 

 has upon its flattened side the efifigy of some woman noted for 

 her grace and skill in dancing. 



The hats of the Easter Islanders were crownless. They wore 

 headdresses of feathers for ornament and to shade the face, per- 

 haps. The collection shows six different styles. They are made 



