An Inexhaustible Paradise
Upon their arrival, my ancestors, the original settlers
of the island, were presented with an island of beauty. There was a stone
quarry, which would provide all the basalt that was needed to build statues.
The soil was adequate to support a small variety of crops, including yams,
taro, bananas, and sweet potatoes. The waters surrounding the island were
inhabited by porpoises, which were a large part of our diet. We also ate
shellfish. The most plentiful resource of the island was the tropical forest.
It must have seemed unlimited to those first residents.
An Ecological Dungeon
My people depended too greatly upon the forest's wood
for everything. They were not concerned with the decline in the tree population.
Before too long the trees were gone. This loss caused a domino effect in
the Rapa Nui ecosystem. The lack of wood stopped the production of boats.
We could no longer fish. Without wood, the islanders burned grasses, hedges,
and sugarcane scraps for cooking and warmth. All this destroyed the soil.
Too soon, the island was reduced to barren terrain and there was no way
of escape. This is what the Dutch explorer, Jacob Roggeven, found when
he first came to my island.
