Easter Islanders On The

Long Way Home

Prom Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, March 30.

THE Easter Islanders—four adults and two children—who made that in credible open boat voyage from Easter Island to the Tuamotus (1,800 miles) at the end of 1947, finally left Papeete on the “Eridan” on March 16.

Under arrangement between the French Governor and the Government of Chile (owners of Easter Island), they are being sent to Cristobal; from there they will go to Chile; and thence back to their lonely and isolated home on Easter.

From the time that the boat was blown to sea, on December 23, 1947, until it drifted onto Reao, in the Tuamotus, six weeks elapsed. The six Polynesian people from Easter, who speak only Spanish, kept themselves alive on a strict dole of fresh rainwater, received from the clouds, and fish, which they took from the sea.