The mystery of Easter island: the story of an expeditionRoutledge, Katherine
History
The mystery of Easter island: the story of an expedition
Routledge, Katherine
Easter Island; Oceania -- Description and travel; Voyages and travels
was diagnosed as “the result of over-eating.” It was a source of
satisfaction that we never throughout the voyage ran short of any
essential commodity.
There were other matters in the household department for which it was
even more difficult to estimate than for the actual food—how many cups
and saucers, for example, should we break per month, and how many reams
of paper and quarts of ink ought we to take. Our books had of course to
be largely scientific, a sovereign’s worth of cheap novels was a boon,
but we often yearned unutterably for a new book. Will those who have
friends at the ends of the earth remember the godsend to them of a few
shillings so invested, as a means of bringing fresh thoughts and a sense
of civilised companionship? For a library for the crew we were greatly
indebted to the kindness of Lord Radstock and the Passmore Edwards Ocean
Library. We were subsequently met at every available port by a supply of
newspapers, comprising the weekly editions of the _Times_ and _Daily
Graphic_, the _Spectator_; and the papers of two Societies for Women’s
Suffrage.
In addition to the requirements for the voyage the whole equipment for
landing had to be foreseen and stowed, comprising such things as tents,
saddlery, beds, buckets, basins, and cooking-pots. We later regretted
the space given to some of the enamelled iron utensils, as they can be
quite well procured in Chile, while cotton and other goods which we had
counted on procuring there for barter were practically unobtainable.
Some sacks of old clothes which we took out for gifts proved most
valuable. Among late arrivals that clamoured for peculiar consideration
were the scientific outfits, which attained to gigantic proportions. S.,
who had studied at one time at University College Hospital, was our
doctor, and the medical and surgical stores were imposing: judging from
the quantity of bandages, we were each relied on to break a leg once a
month. Everybody had photographic gear; the geologist appeared with a
huge pestle and other goods; there was anthropological material for the
preserving of skulls; the surveying instruments looked as if they would
require a ship to themselves; while cases of alarming size arrived from
the Admiralty and Royal Geographical Society, containing sounding
machines and other mysterious articles. The owners of all these
treasures argued earnestly that they were of the essence of the
expedition, and must be treated with respect accordingly. Then of course
things turned up for which everyone had forgotten to allow room, such as
spare electric lamps, also a trammel and seine, each of fifty fathoms,
to secure fish in port. Before we finally sailed a large consignment
appeared of bonded tobacco for the crew, and the principal hold was
sealed by the Customs, necessitating a temporary sacrifice of the
bathroom for last articles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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