Early Speculations on Rapanui: Thomas Croft to Alphonse Pinart, 1876

Abstract

<p>Alphonse L. Pinart (1852-1911), anthropologist and linguist,</p> <p>had established himself as a tireless documenter</p> <p>of native North America, before turning his sights on the Pacific.</p> <p>Rapa Nui, in particular, held him in thrall, and his diary</p> <p>of the 1877 expedition aboard the <em>Seignelay</em> documents the</p> <p>island during its most depopulated and depressed period. As a</p> <p>linguist, he was also interested in <em>rongorongo</em>, and attempted</p> <p>a collection of reproductions of the available texts.</p>