Orongo is a village at the top of another extinct
volcano. The natives used to live here in round
stone houses similar to homes constructed by
natives in Peru. From this vantage point way
above the sea, every year in the spring a
competition was held. Natives dove into the ocean
and swam out to a small island to steal the first
egg of the year from the large birds who inhabit
the place. They fought great battles over the
egg... being careful not to scramble it... and
the victor brought it back to the village. The
winner was the "birdman" king for one
year. There are many birdman drawings on the
island. From the Orongo village one can look down
into the center of another extinct volcano.
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