"By continuously searching over the course of several months, we obtained descriptions of both present-day and especially ancient customs just as they continue to live in the memory of some natives, ...two distinguished themselves through their special aptitude: Juan Rano Veriamo, known as Juan Tepano, and Mateo Veriveri. Juan Tepano, a man of around seventy years of age and a descendant of the Tupahotu tribe, is one of those natives who hold the most detailed memories of ancient customs. His mother, whopassed away in January of this year, was around one hundred years old... she was an eyewitness to ancient and today, extinct customs. We will always hold feelings of affection and gratitude for him and the other natives who, with kindness and true interest, have helped us in our study of the language and the collection of these texts"
Priest Sebastián Englert . Hangaroa, Easter Island, April 6th, 1936.