MALLERY. | PETROGLYPHS IN EASTER ISLAND, 169 
EASTER ISLAND. 
In this island carved human figures of colossal size have been fre- 
quently noticed in various publications, with and without illustrations, 
but apart from those statues ancient stone houses remain in which 
have been found large stone slabs bearing painted figures. Paymas- 
ter William J. Thompson, U. 8S. Navy (a) says of the Orongo houses, 
that the “smooth slabs lining the walls and ceilings were ornamented 
with mythological figures and rude designs painted in white, red, 
and black pigments.” The figures partake of the form of fish and bird- 
like animals, the exaggerated outlines clearly indicating mythologic 
beings, the type of which does not exist in nature. Fig. 155 is pre- 
16) 
Y yj 
My 
YY 
Yi 
ff Wig 4 
YG ypu 
(Coag 
Vr 47) 
{ Mt 
(allie 
Fic. 135.—Petroglyphbs in Easter island. 
sented here, extracted by permission from the work above cited, and it 
may be of interest to know that nearly all, if not all, of the original 
specimens are now deposited in the U.S. National Museum. 
While the curious carvings on the wooden tablets which are dis- 
cussed in the work of Paymaster Thompson are not petroglyphs, it 
seems proper to mention them in this connection. Fig. 156 is taken 
from Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft, in Wien (a), 
and shows one of the tablets, which does not appear to be presented 
in this exact form in the work before mentioned. 
