mysterious easter island
By zteve t evans
Easter Island is also known as Rapa Nui, but in the island legends it was originally called Te Pito Te Henua which means Navel of the World.
It is situated in the vast reaches of the south eastern Pacific Ocean approximately 4,000 km from Chile on the mainland of South America. Its closest neighbour is Pitcairn Island of Captain Bligh and the Bounty fame. Its inhabitants are known as the Rapanui today.
How the islands became settled by humans is not known but it must have taken a great feat in human endurance to cross the vast distance across the empty Pacific to find the island. All they had as transport were primitive double hulled canoes and no modern navigational aids.
The Dream
Island traditions tell the story of how a priest named Hau-Maka had a dream that he had flown over the sea and discovered an uninhabited and unknown island. He then appeared in a dream to a great chief called Hot Matu’a to tell him of his discovery.
Hotu Matu’a believed the dream was a premonition and it was his destiny to lead his people there to settle it. To prepare the way for his coming he sent seven scouts in canoes to find the way and to make preparations for the settlement of the island. They cleared land and planted crops so that the new settlers would find food on arrival. They then returned to Hotu Matu’a.
Island tradition says the Hotu Matu’a and his people arrived at Anakena beach and the settlement of the island began. Cut off from the outside world the people thrived and multiplied and soon created a unique civilization which lasted for centuries. The most visible product of this civilization today are the great stone statues called moai which are still scattered around the edges of the island.
How the islands became settled by humans is not known but it must have taken a great feat in human endurance to cross the vast distance across the empty Pacific to find the island. All they had as transport were primitive double hulled canoes and no modern navigational aids.
The Dream
Island traditions tell the story of how a priest named Hau-Maka had a dream that he had flown over the sea and discovered an uninhabited and unknown island. He then appeared in a dream to a great chief called Hot Matu’a to tell him of his discovery.
Hotu Matu’a believed the dream was a premonition and it was his destiny to lead his people there to settle it. To prepare the way for his coming he sent seven scouts in canoes to find the way and to make preparations for the settlement of the island. They cleared land and planted crops so that the new settlers would find food on arrival. They then returned to Hotu Matu’a.
Island tradition says the Hotu Matu’a and his people arrived at Anakena beach and the settlement of the island began. Cut off from the outside world the people thrived and multiplied and soon created a unique civilization which lasted for centuries. The most visible product of this civilization today are the great stone statues called moai which are still scattered around the edges of the island.
Encounters with Europeans
In 1722, Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutch explorer came across the island on Easter Day, which is how it got its European name. This was to be the beginning of the end for the island civilization. Later, ships would bring smallpox and other diseases which would decimate the islanders. They were also subject to mass kidnap when slave traders abducted most of the population to work in mines in South America.
Hope for the future
After international protests some were eventually allowed to return to the island but their numbers were small. Eventually, with outside help, the survivors did manage to increase their population and today it stands at a much better level with hope for the future.
© 10/06/2014 zteve t evans
In 1722, Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutch explorer came across the island on Easter Day, which is how it got its European name. This was to be the beginning of the end for the island civilization. Later, ships would bring smallpox and other diseases which would decimate the islanders. They were also subject to mass kidnap when slave traders abducted most of the population to work in mines in South America.
Hope for the future
After international protests some were eventually allowed to return to the island but their numbers were small. Eventually, with outside help, the survivors did manage to increase their population and today it stands at a much better level with hope for the future.
© 10/06/2014 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans 10th of June 2013
Copyright zteve t evans 10th of June 2013