286 Memoirs Bcniicc P. Bishop Miisciiui 



the other front posts faced outward. A small figure on the end post of a mortu- 

 ary house also faced inward. It seems probahle that this was the usual ar- 

 rang-ement for end posts. The human figures were carved in full round, the con- 

 vention emploved being substantially the same as that used in the large idols of 

 wood and stone. The heads were cylindrical, with flat faces upon which the high- 

 ly conventionalized features were carved in low relief. They were finished at the 

 top with a narrow horizontal band, above which a cylindrical neck considerably 

 smaller in diameter than the head, supported the ridgepole or stringer. The ears, 

 shaped like the chord of a circle, were shown as two thin flanges, proiecting 

 from either side of the head slightly behind its center. The forward surface 

 of these fianges was carved with two scrolls of unequal length, the upper one 

 being longer. The scrolls met at a point in line with the outer corner of the eye. 

 In some figures a hole was pierced through the center of the lower scroll. A 

 figure seen in Atu Ona, Hiva Oa, differed considerably from these. The roof 

 timber of this house had rested directly upon the head of the figure without any 

 intervening band or neck. The head was narrow, and short vertically with a 

 marked occipital projection. The face was directed upward at an angle of about 

 35 degrees, and the features, although much weathered, indicated a high nose and 

 generallv naturalistic treatment. 



The heads of the figures in a building usually showed uniformity in 

 treatment and size, but the proportions of the body varied considerably, not 

 only between the end and front posts but even between individual front posts. In 

 the end ]iosts the bodies and legs were unnaturally elongated, the idea e\'idently 

 being to have the figure cover as nmch of the post as possible. In the front posts 

 (PI. xLi, B) the bodies were long and the legs disproportionately short or even 

 lacking. The bodies as a rule showed little attemjjt at modeling, and were formed 

 by a few simple planes; the arms were usually at the sides with the hands 

 resting on the stomach. Both the upi)er arm and forearms were disproportion- 

 ately short, and showed no attem]it at modeling. The space betw'een the u]iper 

 arm and bodv in most figures was pierced, while the forearm was carved in 

 rather low relief u])on the body. In one specimen the hand was raised to the 

 mouth and the upper arm was shown in the usual vertical position while the fore- 

 arm and hand were unnaturally elongated; the s])ace between the forearm and 

 chin was pierced. The legs were always shown in a semi-flexed position with 

 the space between them pierced. The thigh was usually short and the lower leg 

 disproportionately long and heavy, but in the specimen from Atu Ona, the legs 

 are naturally jiroportioned and well modeled. The feet were rarely indicated. The 

 sex was usually shown but conventionallv and without exaggeration of the parts. 



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