488 SEA CHAKTS USED IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. 



All my objections that the current can not be seen in open water 

 and all my cross-ciuestionings to secure a more reasonable explanation 

 availed nothing, so that I had to content myself with this, coming to 

 the conclusion that Marshall islanders nuist possess a sixth sense, 

 lacking- in us, which enabled them to perceive more than we. As T 

 afterwards found out, this misunderstanding was ahogether due to 

 false interpretation, coupled with my own limited experience in fol- 

 lowing the thought and expressions of the natives. 



Both charts were hung in my cabin, and the next year, during my 

 sta}' in the South Sea, Australia, and New Zealand, because of their 

 construction, they formed the theme of many a conversation with my 

 visitors, especially English naval ofiicers and gentlemen in Sydney and 

 New Zealand familiar with the Pacitic Ocean. The same testimony 

 came from all, that no one could tell the use of the charts, but the 

 greatest interest was shown and a desire to know more a))out them. 



In 180T, shortly before I made a second cruise to the Marshall 

 Islands, I was interested to meet in Samoa the explorer. Dr. B(Miediet 

 Friedlander, who ))egged me, when convenient, to seek an explanation 

 of the mysterious charts, saying that the Polynesian Society, of which 

 he was a mem))er. would lay great stress upon the investigation. Dr. 

 Friedlander also gave me a drawing of one of the two charts now in 

 my possession, which had been illustrated in the Polynesian Society's 

 Journal, with the reiiuest to seek the decipherment of the lines 

 thereon. For explanation of the chart there was merely the assertion 

 that they were a means ''to teach the 3'outh the direction of the cur- 

 rents."" 



So I determined to do mj^ best on my second cruise, and I belie\'e 

 that, favored ]\y fortune, since I had the kind assistance of two officials 

 as interpreters. I made out a tohn'ably correct explanation, which 1 

 will now set forth. The publication of my results was made in the 

 Marine Rundschau, in order to render them accessible to all my com- 

 rades who might have the opportunity to study more extensively in 

 order to come to a complete solution of the problem. If something- 

 has been already attained herein, still there must be haste. The Mar- 

 shall islanders now make their longer journeys only in European-buit 

 schooners, with the aid of a compass, using charts of the archipelago 

 issued by us, and prefer the patent log. The emplo^'^ment of the old 

 charts was only little known, and they are no longer studied, so that, 

 in fact, on the islands, no further information about the use of the 

 charts is to be had. 



In order to give the greatest possible number of hints to those who 

 wish to pursue the subject further, I shall here report the sources from 

 which 1 have obtained my information and the names of those natives 

 from whom perhaps something more may be gained. 



In the second cruise of His Majesty's ship Bmsmfd, to Jaluit. in 



