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
While S. and I were visiting the glacier gorge, the two other members of
the party were exploring the last portion of the inlet named on the
chart the Lobo Arm. It terminated on low ground, on which stood the
frame of an Indian hut, and pieces of timber had been laid down to form
a portage for canoes. A few steps showed that the low ground extended
only for some 160 yards, while beyond this was another piece of water
which had the appearance of an inland lake, some three miles long and a
mile wide. The portage end of the water was vaguely shown on the chart
of Port Churruca, but there was no indication of anything of the kind on
the general map of Desolation Island. Our curiosity was mildly excited,
and we all visited the place; one of our number remarked that “the water
was slightly salt,” another that there “were tidal indications,” a third
that “from higher ground the valley seemed to go on indefinitely.” At
last the map was again and more seriously examined, and it was seen
that, while there were no signs of this water, there were on the
opposite side of the island the commencements of two inlets from the
open sea, neither of which had been followed up: the more northerly of
these was immediately opposite Port Churruca. “If,” we all agreed, “our
lake is not a lake at all, but a fiord”—and to this every appearance
pointed—“it is in all probability the termination of this northern
inlet, and Desolation Island is cut in two except for the small isthmus
with the portage.” Then a great ardour of exploration seized us, Mr.
Corry fell a victim to it, Mr. Gillam fell likewise, and we refused to
be depressed by Mr. Ritchie’s dictum that it had “nothing to do with
serious navigation.” We wrestled with a conscientious conviction that it
had certainly nothing to do with Easter Island, and we ought to go
forward at the earliest possible moment, but the exploration fever
conquered. We discussed the possibility of getting the motor-launch over
the portage, and were obliged reluctantly to abandon it as too heavy,
but it was concluded that it would be quite feasible with the cutter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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