4 CARL SKOXTSBERG 



on horseback, and arrived at Mataveri, the seat of the farm house, on the 19th. 

 In the meantime we had made some excursions in the northeastern part, where 

 Mt Katiki was ascended. At Mataveri we were cordially received by Mr. 

 Percy Edmunds, the manager, and were invited to to take up our quarters in 

 his house. Quite naturally, the natives were in a state of great excitement 

 over the arrival of the vessel with their much beloved bishop, the missionaries 

 (two Capuchin Brethren) and the many useful articles reported to be onboard; 

 and consequently they were rather unwilling to render us any assistance. It 

 was only through the kind intervention of the bishop that we were able to get 

 an important part of our scientific baggage, which had been left on the beach 

 at La Perouse, transported to Mataveri. From our headquarters the district 

 round Hanga Roa and Hanga Piko etc. was visited and several trips under- 

 taken to Rano Kao and Orongo, the famous stone village. Further, our work 

 was extendend to Rano Aroi and Mt. Terevaka, the highest mountain, and 

 also to the south coast and to Rano Raraku, the image mountain. 



We had expected to remain at least three weeks on the island, and greatly 

 regretted that we were ordered onboard already after a fortnight's stay, espe- 

 cially as my capacity for hard work had become reduced on account of illness. 

 The »Baquedano» left Easter Island on July ist. 



GENERAL NOTES ON THE GEOGRAPIIV OF EASTER ISLAND 



The topographical features of the island are fairly well illustrated on the 

 accompanying map, the result of Chilean Navy surveys of later years. The 

 position of the observation spot in Hanga Roa is given as Lat. 27° 08' 06" S., 

 Long. 109° 25' 54'' W. Mrs. Routledge's map is based on U. S. Hydro- 

 graphic Office chart no. 11 19, from which it differs in the position of some of 

 the mountains and in the geographical names. There are certain discrepancies 

 between this map and the Chilean one, and the difference between tlie latter 

 and the U. S. chart are still more considerable, especially in the configuration 

 of the northwestern part of the island. There has been some confusion in the 

 placing of the names, but I take it for granted that all the names used by 

 Mrs. R. are properly spelt and rightly placed. 



The island is known to be wholly volcanic. There are no signs of recent 

 action, save for a couple of tepid springs below high water mark reported to, 

 but never seen by us. It is rather curious that both Thomson (Smiths. Inst. 

 Ann. Rep. 1889, Washington 1891) and AGAS.S1Z (Mem. Mus. Comp. Zoo). 

 Cambridge 33, 1906) should discuss volcanic eruptions and great earthquakes 

 as a possible reason for the destruction of the megalithic monuments and for 

 the disappearance of the greater part of the population, as all signs of recent 

 catastrophes are entirely absent. On the other hand, not a few craters are 

 well preserved; sometimes they are arranged on distinct lines suggesting lines 

 of less resistance in the older, more or less horisontal basaltic beds, which form 

 the bulk of the island. The tufas and ashes of the numerous cones present a 

 great variation of colour contributing to lessen the monoton)'' of the scenery. 

 The attention of the visitor is especially drawn to the three great Rano. Rano 



