The Monarchical Government Likewise Strengthens The Affinity
Between The Easter Islanders And The Tropical Tribes, Its Prerogatives
Being Only Varied According To The Different Degrees Of Fertility Of
The Islands, And The Opulence Or Luxury Of The People.
The statues,
which are erected in honour of their kings, have a great affinity to
the wooden figures called
Tea, on the chief's marais or burying-
places, at Otaheite; but we could not possibly consider them as idols.
The disposition of these people is far from being warlike; their
numbers are too inconsiderable and their poverty too general, to
create civil disturbances amongst them. It is equally improbable that
they have foreign wars, since hitherto we know of no island near
enough to admit of an interview between the inhabitants; neither could
we obtain any intelligence from those of Easter Island upon the
subject. This being premised, it is extraordinary that they should
have different kinds of offensive weapons, and especially such as
resemble those of the New Zealanders; and we must add this
circumstance to several others which are inexplicable to us. Upon the
whole, supposing Easter Island to have undergone a late misfortune
from volcanic fires, its inhabitants are more to be pitied than any
less civilized society, being acquainted with a number of
conveniences, comforts, and luxuries of life, which they formerly
possessed, and of which the remembrance must embitter the loss." - G.P.
Forster the father is decided in opinion, as to the revolution that
has undoubtedly occurred in this island, being occasioned by a volcano
and earthquake, and gives a very curious account of a notion prevalent
amongst the Society Isles, and forming indeed part of their
mythological creed, which, if to be credited, affords support to it.
The subject altogether is of a most interesting and important nature,
but cannot possibly be investigated or even specified in an adequate
manner in this place. We hope to do it justice hereafter. - E.
SECTION IX.
The Passage from Easter Island to the Marquesas Islands. Transactions
and Incidents which happened while the Ship lay in Madre de Dios, or
Resolution Bay, in the Island of St Christina.
After leaving Easter Island, I steered N.W. by N. and N.N.W., with a fine
easterly gale, intending to touch at the Marquesas, if I met with nothing
before I got there. We had not been long at sea, before the bilious
disorder made another attack upon me, but not so violent as the former. I
believe this second visit was owing to exposing and fatiguing myself too
much at Easter Island.
On the 22d, being in the latitude of 19 deg. 20' S., longitude 114 deg. 49' W.,
steered N.W. Since leaving Easter Island, the variation had not been more
than 3 deg. 4', nor less than 2 deg. 32' E.; but on the 26th, at six a.m., in
latitude 15 deg. 7' S., longitude 119 deg. 45' W., it was no more than 1 deg. 1' E.;
after which it began to increase.
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