SEA CHARTS USED IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. 505 



and to serve in sickness. In other parts of the canoe nothing was 

 stowed, since this must be always unoccupied. On the starboard, upon 

 the platform, were to be seen large hoods, in two parts, made from 

 mats, for protecting the sails. 



The sails, which were of finer mats, were well cared for. When out 

 to sea, if there came a Boe or a rain storm the sail was at once taken 

 down and covered with mats. The reason for thus protecting them 

 must be the fact that the relativelv very large sail in a wet condition 

 would become too heavy. The mats are woven from Pandanus; the 

 cordage is all made from cocoa palm fiber. 



When the trades set in and the sea rises so that the low, full-packed 

 canoes can no longer sail, the dunungs and the Kabbelungen were no 

 longer perceivable, navigation ceased, and the canoes were drawn up 

 and entirely overhauled." They were taken apart to renew the joints 

 w here the parts came together; the work was polished down with coral, 

 the cordage set right, and new sails prepared. 



A flotilla consisted usually of 25 to 30 canoes; there have been some 

 containing as high as 80. The conducting of such a flotilla devolved 

 on the chief and those subchiefs (Leotagetags) who had been initiated 

 into the secrets of navigation. It was strongly and religiously forbid- 

 den to divulge anything concerning this art to the people; the chiefs 

 wished to hold this knowledge for their sole benefit, partly for the ele- 

 vation of their functions; partly to hinder their subjects from learning 

 it in order to free themselves from the frequentl}^ tyrannical govern- 

 ment of their chiefs. 



The chiefs in piloting as a rule stayed together on one canoe, the 

 pilot boat, the other canoes following this. AVithin the atoll I once 

 saw in the lagoon of Majuro and twice in the lagoon of Arno whole 

 flotillas sailing, when the chiefs there with their following were ordered 

 to appear by His Majesty's ship Bumrrd and to give u\) their weapons, 

 and they came, moving in close order. The sight was a beautiful one, 

 and the management of the canoes made a fine impression for seaman- 

 ship. The craft followed in single file and appeared to be used to 

 manoeuvring, since the slower ones, as among our own boats of the 

 same size, in order to equal the speed of the superior canoes, took 

 their paddles so as not to be left behind. Captain Kessler is rei)orted 

 to have heard that the canoes on their long journeys sailed abreast in 

 order to reach their destination in better form, l)ut this has not been 

 confirmed, although it may have ])een practical)le. From the expla- 

 nations received by me, the canoes always followed their leader in single 

 file. The chiefs on the pilot boat act as watch, one on the stern, one 

 on the bow to inspect the water. The latter was the i)rincipal oflicer. 

 In order to be sure that he was on the outlook and kej)! his eye on the 

 water indications he had to sing continuously. His highest art wt)uld 

 consist in keeping on the Okar, between the Rilib and the Kivlib, or 



