Once upon a time Keats and Chapman were on safari in the Pacific and, by chance observing Easter Island, paddled their canoe towards it and landed. They marched inland, wondered at the great flocks of sheep which were grazing there, and happened upon the village of Hanga-roa on the west side, where the natives are confined with small allotments for tillage.
After laborious search Chapman found a native who understood a little English. This man told Keats and Chapman that he would introduce them to the resident witch–doctor, but warned them to be careful of him as he had immense magical powers and could even bring the great statues to life. This witch-doctor turned out to be a very old leper decked out with beads and paint. Chapman, ever sceptical, arranged for a litter to carry himself, Keats and the witch-doctor to one of the statues. In front of it the doctor lit a fire, produced a pot and in it made a stew of snakes, toads, rats, and sundry maggots. As the unholy smoke and smell rose from the cauldron, he began incantations and gestures, dancing about and uttering strange calls. To his utter horror Chapman saw the expression on the face of the great statue change: there seemed signs of breathing in the chest and the arms were twitching.
‘It’s alive!’ Chapman screamed and collapsed in a dead faint. But Keats was not in the least intimidated. He smiled and advanced with an outstretched hand.
‘Dr Living Stone, I presume?’ he said pleasantly.