(First published in Small World Ezine on 19 March 2002)
Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) is one of the world’s greatest
archaeological sites, and also one of the most remote. The
Rapa Nui is in the Pacific just about in the middle between
Chile and Tahiti. If you do not recall, see the tiny pic at your
left. Yep... That's the statue and place we are talking about.
The tragic of the people of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was just
because somebody thought (and are still thinking) that people
who looked, acted, or believed otherwise were uncivilized,
and, to those barbarians, they can do anything (even more
barbaric) without guilt.
First, this island is called Rapa Nui, but the Dutch
explorer, Jacob Roggeveen did not care. He found it on the
Easter Sunday of 1720 A.D., 1400 years after the first
Polynesian had moved in, and decided to call it "Easter
Island" without asking the tenants how the place had been
called by them.
Then came the Spanish captain, Don Felipe Gonzáles, who
calimed the island for the King of Spain in 1770. Captain
James Cook and the French admiral and explorer, le Comte de
La Pérouse were also there a few years later. But not much
damage had been done (Some islanders were killed because they
looked dangerous to Europeans. And the mainland diseases
such as VD, TB, small pox, ... were brought to the island
where people had no natural immune or medical knowledge to
any).
Once a while when ships needed more labors and/or women
would stop by and kidnap islanders from their home. The
real major life-taking threat was when the slave-traders
discovered the place. One after another, they kidnapped men
and women of Rapa Nui to the slave markets. When this was
finally over, it was said that only one-thirds were left in
the island with health problems from the outside.
Now came the missionaries who tried to help with their
medicine, but in the process of conversion, they destroyed
almost all the evidences of old believes including ancient
scripts, tablets, and wooden artifacts.
Finally, In 1888 a Chilean Captain, Policarpo Toro Hurtado,
took formal possession of the island in the name of the
Republic of Chile. Twelve Rapanui chiefs ceded sovereignty
to Chile "for ever."
With the amazing sculptures on the shore of Rapa Nui, there
were hundreds of theories on WHO, HOW and WHY. The lost
continent, UFO, Egyptians, etc. I'd like to quote from
http://islandheritage.org/mysteries.html that...
"To suggest or intimate that the ancient Easter Islanders
did not carve their statues and build their shrines is to
deny them their past. Easter Island has a rich history,
coming out of the Polynesian tradition, which in turn derives
from Southeast Asia. They created a remarkable civilization,
out there, isolated in the vast South Pacific Ocean. Let’s
give them a little credit!"
The mysteries of Easter Island
More:
How to get there...
Only one Airline flies from Chile (takes 5 hours). You can
also buy a package cruise from there, but I think taking a
cruise from New Zealand might be a better idea. It is
probably too far and dangerous for a private yacht or
sailboat.
Stay for longer (like a week). There are 1000+ archeoligical
and historical sites to see. Bring your food and water. Food
is expensive (to tourists), and safe drinking water is rare.
It is recommended to attend the mass in the Catholic church
if you are there on Sunday (if it's not against your belief).
The singing is "not missable".
Locals speak Spanish, but Rapa Nuis speak their language.
Last but not least, the Easter Island Foundations is raising
funds for preservations of the island's magnificent
archaeological heritage. Visit their web site for the
information on upcoming projects, and donation at:
http://islandheritage.org/projects.html
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