Stacey
04-12-2004, 09:33 AM
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was originally formed by a volcano rising out of the Pacific, which was later joined by two others. Their eruptions caused the forming of the island.
It is believed that the first to arrive here were from the Marquesas Islands, around the 4th century.
Local legend says that 7 explorers were sent by their King to look for new land, and they found Easter island. When the King arrived he named the island Te pito o te henua (The Earth's Navel).
The seven statues that face out to sea are said to have been in honor of those original 7 explorers, who had come from the sea.
The island received the name "Easter" island due to its first contact with a Dutch admiral who arrived on Easter Sunday, 1722.
Other Europeans came after the Dutch, in 1770 the Spanish, in 1774 the British under James Cook, in 1786 the French, and in 1804 the Russians.
James Cook reported that the island looked to have been nearly destroyed by a civil war, and only 700 men and 30 women were left. The statutes also had been devastated. Around the year 1860 the inhabitants had arisen to about 3 thousand. During the period from 1862-63 the natives had been taken as slaves to work in guano mines. When those captives had been allowed to return, they brought with them smallpox and tuberculosis, and again nearly decimated the population. Because of this, much of their history and tradition was lost to them.
It is believed that the first to arrive here were from the Marquesas Islands, around the 4th century.
Local legend says that 7 explorers were sent by their King to look for new land, and they found Easter island. When the King arrived he named the island Te pito o te henua (The Earth's Navel).
The seven statues that face out to sea are said to have been in honor of those original 7 explorers, who had come from the sea.
The island received the name "Easter" island due to its first contact with a Dutch admiral who arrived on Easter Sunday, 1722.
Other Europeans came after the Dutch, in 1770 the Spanish, in 1774 the British under James Cook, in 1786 the French, and in 1804 the Russians.
James Cook reported that the island looked to have been nearly destroyed by a civil war, and only 700 men and 30 women were left. The statutes also had been devastated. Around the year 1860 the inhabitants had arisen to about 3 thousand. During the period from 1862-63 the natives had been taken as slaves to work in guano mines. When those captives had been allowed to return, they brought with them smallpox and tuberculosis, and again nearly decimated the population. Because of this, much of their history and tradition was lost to them.