EASTER ISLAND (so called because discov ered by lloggoVeell on Easter Day. 1772; also called a, Tenpi, and by the natives, Ra pa nal). 'rhe most easterly of the inhabited islands of Polynesia. situated in the Pacific. in latitude 27° 20' S., and longitude 109' 30' W. (Map: World. Western Ilemisphere, Al 9). It is of vol canic origin. rising 1200 feet above the sea, and is moderately fertile, but almost destitute of water. It is triangular in shape. and has an area of about forty-five square miles. The most interesting feature is the Mimic of rude stone statues. smile them of colossal size, which are to be seell standing on long platforms of Cyclopean masonry. The island has been in the possession of Chile since 1SSS.
The natives of Eater are the last out post of the Malayo-Polynesian race, to which they belong by physical charaete•istics. lan guage, arts, etc. The stone images, sculptured stones, petroglyphs, et•., whose origin has been so much discussed. are not beyond the known capacity of the Polynesians. Indeed. the recent
studies of Brom] on the art remains of Pitcairn Island indicate the presence there of all but the famous tablets, which again :ire Polynesian products. The interpretation of the tablets and the meaning of the images have not yet been discovered. strange theories have been put forward to account for their presence, but the study of similar remains in the Carolines, Tonga. Pitcairn. etc., may ultimately clear up the matter. Edge-Partington (19011 considers Easter Island as much a mystery as ever.. The population of the island, by reason of missionary transference to Tahiti, and the Peruvian slave trade. has dwindled almost to extinction. It is estimated at 150. Consult: Geiseler. Die Ogler inset: Eine Shp(' priiiiistorisehe• huller 1SS3 ) and Thonison's monograph, "'re Pith Ti' Henna, or Easter Island." in the Report of 1 he States Xational Mnseam (Wash ington. IS59