NO. 6 



GREAT STONE MONUMENTS FEWKES 



37 



little short of 3 feet in length. One of the largest images that has been in 

 position lies near the platform which is ornamented, near Ovahe ; it is 32 feet 

 long and weighs 50 tons 



The images were designed as effigies of distinguished persons and intended 

 as monuments to perpetuate their memory. They were never regarded as idols, 

 and were not venerated or worshipped in any manner 



The work of carving the image into shape and detaching it from the rock of 

 which it was a part, did not consume a great deal of time, but the chief difficulty 

 was, in the absence of mechanical contrivances to launch it safely down the 

 slope of the mountain and transport it to a distant point. It was lowered to the 

 plain by a system of chocks and wedges, and the rest was a dead drag accom- 

 plished by main strength. A roadway was constructed over which the images 



Fig. 26. — Monoliths and images (fallen) Easter Island, from Thomson. 



were dragged by means of ropes made of indigenous hemp, and sea-weed and 

 grass made excellent lubricants. The platforms were all built with sloping 

 terraces in the rear, and up this incline a temporary road-way was constructed 

 of a suitable height, upon which the statue could be rolled until the base was 

 over the proper resting place. The earth was then dug away to allow the image 

 to settle down into position, the ropes being used to steady it in the mean- 

 time 



The fact that these huge monoliths rise from platforms recalls con- 

 ditions in South Africa already considered where monoliths and 

 gigantic birds stand on similar great stone platforms. 



There is abundant evidence that Mr. Thomson has correctly inter- 

 preted the Easter Island colossi as " effigies of distinguished persons 

 .... intended as monuments to perpetuate their memory." Investi- 



