ON SEA CHARTS FORMERLY USED IN THE MARSHALL 

 ISLANDS, WITH NOTICES ON THE NAVIGATION OF 

 THESE ISLANDERS IN GENERAL. ^ 



By Captain Winkler, 

 Of tht German Navy. 



In July, 1896, I was stationed for a short time in Jaluit, on the Mar- 

 shall Islands, during- the annual circuit of inspection. While there I 

 received from Dr. Irmer, roj^al inspector of lands, among other things, 

 Gwo sea charts of the Marshall islanders, made of a number of sticks 

 lashed together in a rude latticework, and on this at various points 

 tvere tied small shells. Dr. Irmer confessed that he was unable to 

 explain the meaning and function of the charts, for great secrecy was 

 preserved among- the islanders on this score and onh^ a few of the old 

 chiefs, indeed, were in possession of the secret. He had sought to 

 secure their interpretation in his official capacit}^, but to no purpose. 

 He laid it on my conscience, since ethnologists are greatlv interested in 

 such matters, and since a thorough explanation of the charts had not 

 been made, to try my skill therein, and he promised to bring all his 

 influence to bear on my behalf to this end. 



The chief, Lojak, who was one of the most skillful local pilots, 

 was induced to give me his interpretations, which Dr. Irmer's native 

 servant, Ladjur, would interpret. One forenoon an impressive scene 

 was enacted in Dr. Irmer's quarters, when Lojak, with the greatest 

 secrecy, first closed all the windows, in spite of the 34"-' C. heat, hav- 

 ing threatened Ladjur with death if he divulged the tabooed mystery; 

 but the result of the long sweat bath was a complete negative. From 

 other persons on the archipelago I gathered what they had learned 

 concerning the interpretation of the charts, to the etfect that the mus- 

 sels on them indicated the islands and that the sticks represented the 

 currents, that the natives knew these currents, and that on a journey 

 one man from the bow of the canoe looked over the water and in the 

 easiest manner, by the water indications and the chart, directed his 

 course. 



1 Translated from IMarine-Rundschan, Berlin, 1898, pt. 10, pp. 1418-14:W, with platen 

 from the United States National Museum and other collections. 



487 



