Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Te Pito Te Henua, Known as Rapa Nui: Commonly Called Easter Island, South Pacific Ocean; Latitude 27° 10' S., Longitude 109° 26' W
The U. S. S. Mohican sailed from the port of Callao, Peru, March 6, under orders for a protracted cruise, on special duty, among the islands of the South Pacific, with instructions, on her return passage to the South American coast, to call at Easter Island, make certain investigations desired by the Smithsonian Institution, and especially to bring away one of the colossal stone images to be found upon the island.
After a passage of thirty-two days the Marquesas group was reached, but the authorities, wishing to impose quarantine upon the ship, a stay of a few hours only was made, and we pushed on to the island of Rairoa, in the Tuamotu, or Low Archipelago. From thence the ship visited, at various times, and in some instances repeatedly, the Society Islands, the Samoan Group, the Tonga Group, the Fiji Islands, and New Zealand, and took her final departure from Tahiti for Easter Island and the South American coast November 16, dropping anchor in Hanga Roa Bay, west coast Rapa Nui, December 18.
The stone image, stone crown, and stone head, for the Smithsonian Institution, having been successfully transported over the island to the beach and thence transferred on board, the ship sailed on the last day of the year for Valparaiso, Chile, arriving at the latter port January having performed the duty assigned her, in which all on board took the liveliest interest.
The writer has confined himself, as strictly as circumstances would admit, to the line of investigation assigned him, in order that there might not be a needless repetition in the reports of the several officers concerned in the work.
Inthe preparation and collation of the glossary the writer has been ably assisted by Lieut. William E. Safford, U. S. N.
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