98 CAPTAIN FOLGER'S ACCOUNT. 
island was inhabited previously to their ar- 
rival. Overlooking Bounty Bay is a lofty 
peak, within 100 yards of which were found 
on a rock four images, about six feet in 
height, placed upon a platform, which is called 
a paipai. One of these was a rude represen- 
tation of the human figure, to the hips, 
hewn out of a piece of red lava. Each of 
the skulls which were dug up had under it 
a pearl-shell, according to the mode of burial 
adopted in the place at the time, probably 
some centuries since. It has been suggested 
with reason, that the ancient occupants were 
drifted to this place from the Gambier, or 
other islands, on a raft. Several specimens 
of hatchets, and spear-heads of very hard 
stone, and a large stone bowl, were dis- 
covered. The mutineers also met, on the 
east side of the island, with certain uncouth 
carvings of the sun, moon, stars, a bird, men, 
&c. in a cavern situate in the face of a cliff. 
There are some inaccuracies in the nar- 
rative forwarded by Captain Folger, in his 
letter of March 1, 1813, respecting his visit 
to the island. He stated that about six years 
after the arrival of the nine mutineers, the 
