SEA CHARTS USED IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. 489 



November, 1897, I observed lying at anchor the (xerman schooner Nep- 

 tiuif. Captain Kessler. He had ah'oady spent a decade in the Marshall 

 and CTil})ert groups, was quite familiar with the native hmguages, and 

 friendly with the chiefs, with one of whom, Nelu, he was in fraternal 

 relations. Now I had someone who coidd help me. Captain Kessler, 

 who had no accurate knowledge concerning tlu^ cliarts. ntn'ertheless 

 showed the greatest willingness and interest and promised hearty 

 cooperation. 



Then began a strenuous, monotonous, and patient research. Chief 

 Nelu. who did not wish to conceal aught from his brother Kessler. was 

 fii'st pumped. He told us all that he knew, and gave us pleasure with 

 his willingness, but when, in the evening. I collected all that had been 

 heard and noted down and tried to put it into form I found so man}^ 

 C(jntradictions that pretty much all that had been Avritten had to be 

 crossed out. We came to the conclusion that Nelu was not sufficient!}^ 

 trained, and through incessant drinking of beer, which furnished his 

 sole nourishment, had become too stupid to be able to render a clear 

 explanation. 



It was now to look up Chief Lojak, who at iirst was not willing to 

 speak out plainly, but when he heard that Nelu had told us all he 

 knew, was more cordial and willing to answer questions. Here 

 also great patience was demanded. These hour-long sessions and 

 squeezings were not to the liking of the king, as he called himself. It 

 was not easy for him to express himself correctly, and frequently we 

 h;id to interrupt our sessions when his confusion l)ecame uncomfort- 

 able. 



Once Lojak told me with seeming frankness that I was the duml)- 

 est churl he had ever seen; dail}?^ he told rae the same, and that every 

 day I came again with the same stupid (juestions; generally he would 

 have no more to say to me, and only a glass of sack, which the old man 

 loved, would make him friendly again. 



As an extreme measure, I had hanging in my cabin a showy uniform 

 coat which I promised Lojak if he would answer all my ([uestions. The 

 hint had its effect, for another chief frequently in company with Lojak, 

 nauied Kabua, had before that received fi"om a commandant such a 

 garment, in which he, much to Lojak's envy, had appeared on festive 

 occasions. To have in sight a better coat seemed to him a piece of the 

 h(>st luck that could happen. 



In gathering help from all sides, we came upon another good leader, 

 though there stood many wide gaps in our knowledge; for now for- 

 tune gave me an exceptional help in the person of a half-breed named 

 Joachim de Brun, called Jochem, who came to Jaluit once in a while 

 to consult the resident ph3'sician. He was a son of a Portuguese in 

 Likieb, who built a schooner for the chief there. 



Jochem was an intelligent man, spoke English and the Marshall 



