SEA CHAKTS USED IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. 



493 



(Jn:>c^ 



will be discovered and corrected by those who are interested in the 

 data here given, and who have more leisure than I can command. 

 The native words to be used are: 



1. Bilih, in English, "backbone." Rilib signifies the eastward 

 dunung. The line of direction for this dunung is indicated by a curve, 

 with the explanation that in coming against an island the dunung is 

 held up, arrested, through the heaping up of the water 



at a certain distance from the island, whereby the swell f?, 



beyond would be forced or curved inward. The Rilib N^ 



is quite worthy of note all the year round; it is in the 

 Marshall group the strongest dunung. 



2. Kaelih. Kaelib is the name for the western dun- 

 ung. It is to be seen throughout the whole 3'ear, but is 

 not so strong as the Rilib. Unpracticed persons are able 

 to detect the Kaelib onl}" with the greatest difficulty. 



3. Bungdocl'er!l\ "coming from the south." This 

 term refers, as the name sig'nities, to the southern dun- fk;.!.— luKicf RiUb. 

 ung, which arises in the southwest passage region. It 



is also to be observed throughout the whole year, and is quite as 

 strong as the Rilib, especially in the southern part of the group. 



■i. Bungdockeimj ^ "from the north." Bungdockeing is the northern 

 dunung, having its origin from the ocean, and exhibiting itself most 

 strongl}' in the northern part of the Marshall group. 



5. Boot^ " a knot, or node." Boot signifies the place of the knot, or 

 the nodal point at which the dunung swells, diverted 

 b}" an island, cross one another. Near every island, 

 also, there exists a continuous series of Boots, which 

 play a most important role in sailing. 



6. Ohar^ "root." Here equivalent to saying: As 

 the root, if you follow it, leads to the palm tree, so 

 does this lead to the island. Okar is the continued 

 series of Boots. When you have found the first Boot, 

 then you get to the island by following the Okar. 



7. Bolol\ "something lost." Here with the mean- 

 ing that you are out of your course. The term is ap- 

 plied to the remarkable dunung on the western side 

 of the island, extending from the northern angle to 

 the northwest, arising from the ])reakers of the Rilib. 

 When one gets therein, he perceives that he has missed 



the island and is trending to the northwest. 



8. Nit hi I'ot, "a hole." Signifying a cage or trap in which birds 

 are kept, with the meaning here that the navigator is in a cul-de-sac. 

 and must go back. Nit in kot corresponds to the Rolok ruiming from 

 the southern point of tlu' island to the southwest. 



9. Jtir in ohne, "stakes." :Meaning here that there is an ol)struc- 

 tion in the way. They call Jur in okme the dunung arismg out ot 



Fig. 2. — End of Kaelib. 



