HOW TO MAKE WALKING MOAI

HOW TO MAKE WALKING MOAI

AKU-AKU

THE SECRET OF EASTER ISLAND

THOR HEYERDAHL

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"Don Pedoro, Mayor,"I said, "now perhaps you can tell me

how your ancestors moved the figures round about on the island."

"They went of themselves, they walked," the mayor replied glibly.

"Rubbish,"I said disappointed and slightly irritated.

"Take it easy! I believe that they walked, and we must

respect our forefathers who have said that they walked.

But the forfathers who told me that not seen it with their

own eyes, so who knows if their forefathers did not use a

miro manga erua?"

"What that?"

The mayor drew on the ground a Y-shaped figure with

crosspieces, and explained that it was a sledge made from

a forked tree trunk.

"At any rate they used those to drag the big blocks for the

wall," he added by way of a cocession. "And they made thick

ropes from the tough bark of the hau-hau tree, as thick as the

hawsers you have on board. I can make you a specimen. I can

make a miro manga erua too."