The Vaka Taumako Project of
the Pacific Traditions Society
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Preliminary Summary of Data and Research Findings of M. George – For the National Science Foundation In the eight sections of this report some detailed outlines of the data with some illustrations and photos are provided in sections I, III, and VI. More general descriptions of data are provided for sections II, IV, V, VII, and VIII. In conclusion section IX offers observations as to how the data might prove or disprove our four hypotheses.
Almost all of the diagrams have been added. None of the photos are available at this time. I) NOHOANGA TE MATANGI - "POSITIONS OF THE WIND" A navigational system correlating a horizonal array of wind positions with other observable phenomena – e.g. swells, sunrise and sunset paths, celestial bodies, seasons, dynamic behavior of winds, solstices and equinoxes, voyaging routes, star paths, etc. – and built upon an awareness and perception of phenomena that are not taught in western navigation or seamanship. Clarification and elaboration of the Nohoanga Te Matangi data was gained in several ways including those listed below: A) Confirmation of my pre-NSF study research data in the 8 diagrams previously constructed showing:
2) the 16 secondary positions 3) the full 32 named positions 4) the sunrise and sunset positions 5) the seasons, solstices and equinoxes 6) the strong and not strong wind positions 7) the celestial bodies useful in navigation positions
10) the actual rise and set of celestial bodies and wind positions, with all new data 11) star courses for particular routes Diagram 1 (below); The 8 primary wind positions of the Nohoanga Te Matangi system, which are distributed with equal spacing around the 360 degree horizon (te maunga) with the viewer being located in the middle. These 8 positions are learned and thought of as 4 pairs of positions from opposites positions (180 degrees apart) around the horizon. Thus Te Alunga is paired with Te Haka Hiu, Te Tonga is paired with Te Tokelau, Te Ulu is paired with Te Palapu, and Te Laki is paired with Te Tokelau Tu. I plan to make electronic color-coding of the pairs to complete this diagram. 
Position pair 1) If the sun rises atTe Alunga it will set somewhere in the sector from Te Tokelau through Te Tokelau Palapu Te Tokelau. Position pair 2) If the sun rises at Te AlungaTonga, if will set somewhere in the sector from positions Te Tokelau through Te Tokelau Hakahiu Te Tokelau. Position pairs 3 and 4) If the sun rises at Te Tonga or Te Tonga Ulu, it will set somewhere in the sector from positions Te Tokelau Hakahiu through Te Tokelau Hakahiu Te Hakahiu. 
The positions from Te Laki through (clockwise) Te Palapu comprise the sector called Te Angeho – the season of cyclonic (westerly) winds. The sectors from Te Ulu to Te Laki and from Te Palapu to Te Tokelau Tu are inter-seasonal sectors defined calendrically by the solstices and equinoxes at the beginning and end of each season. The cyclone season begins with the equinox and ends with the solstice.; and the trade wind season begins with the solstice and ends with the equinox. 
Two of the "special winds" – winds that do not occur every year but are well known for their behavior – are call Te Vai Hapulu and Te Vaka Vei. Te Vai Hapulu starts blowing from Te Palapu and blows very hard – approximately 35 knots or more. During a period of about two weeks the position it blows from moves slowly counterclockwise around the horizon from Te Palapu through Te Tokelau Palapu through to Te Tokelau, and decreases in volume until it reaches Te Tokelau. Then, most times, another wind called Te Vaka Vei starts up strongly blowing from Te Tokelau at about 30 knots or more, and over a period of about two weeks it moves slowly around the horizon counterclockwise from Te Tokelau to Te Hakahiu, gradually decreasing in volume until it blows at about 20 knots when it finally reaches Te Hakahiu. When that happens, that is when it is safe for canoes to sail again. These are special winds common to the Reef Islands. There are other special winds common to Reefs and there are special winds common to other areas. Some of these special winds are known to blow throughout Temotu islands, though possibly not simultaneously at all the islands. 
Within any season the actual wind position that the wind blows from keeps shifting clockwise, moving through other positions around the horizon. Eventually the "man pushes" the wind back to the beginning position, or nearly to the original wind position, and the wind starts over asserting its tendancy to shift to positions further clockwise. The "man" has his arm out and is pushing the wind position back around counterclockwise. He attempts to return the wind to the original positions in the season, but as the season progresses he dies not succeed. When the man canno push it all the way back then he pushes it back to some nearly former position. In this way the man keeps losing positions over the course of the season the wind position gradually moves around the horizon clockwise until it sits on the very last position in the season. In the season of Te Ngatae, this would be Te Ulu. Then, when the man can no longer push the wind back into the season, the wind moves right through Te Hakahiu and on to Te Tokelau. In these positions the wind is often light or calm. Then the wind takes up position in the beginning of the sector that comprises the next season. The man turns around and start pushing the wind back to the beginning position of that season. This diagram shows the man's face simultaneously facing both ways while his arm is pushing counterclockwise back against the drift of the wind positions in a clockwise direction. But actually the man is pushing the wind position back in only one season or the other. This simple model correlates with the behavior of wind as weather fronts work through an area during seasons of the year. It would be a useful conceptual tool for a non-instrument navigator in any open ocean on the earth. 
I am aware of 8 more celestial bodies that Taumako use for navigation. I will construct a similar diagram for them eventually. 
The second ring from the center is called Hetu Mdavo. It is the star group that English speakers call the Pleiades. Hetu Mdavo is useful in all winds positioned from Te Tokelau Tu through Te Palapu (moving clockwise). Like Hakangi, the only positions that Hetu Mdavo is not useful for navigation with are from Te Palalpu to Te Tokelau Tu. The third ring from the center is called "The Return of Hetu Mdavo". This line shows the wind positions of Hetu Mdavo when it is not visible – when it is below the horizon. Notice that it is the second half of the Return of Hetum Davo line that is useful for navigation – from Te Tokelau Tu to Te Alunga. Nohoanga Te Matangi navigators are using Hetu Mdavo for navigation when it is not visible above the horizon because when each of them first becomes visible over the horizon (annually), a 5 day Hetu Mdavo and Hakangi are called Hetu e Lua (the star couple) westerly wind begins to blow. These "winds of rising" occur during Te Ngatae season, when they may be seen to rise at around 5 AM. Hetu Mdavo is the first to rise -around 4 or 5 July. It is mentally pictured as the little eyes of birds, and when they rise from the sea they shake off their wings causing disturbed weather for 5 to 6 days. The next to rise is Lua Tawawa- the 4th celestial body from the center – which is useful for navigation in all the positions of Hetu e Lua, and which has no wind associated with it. Then Hakangi rises and brings 5 days of westerlies. Hetu e Lua, Hakangi, and Sino also have Winds of Setting that occur in Te Angeho. Paekea me Ula is actually a dark, crab-like shape paired with a dark, lobster-like, shape just north of east in the sky (seen from Taumako). Paekea and Ula help as sort of spacers before Takelo and Sino come rise to the south of east. Ula has no wind with it, but Paekea has a wind that comes from Tokelau when it rises. Takelo is the three people paddling in the canoe – which English speakers call the "belt of Orion." When Takelo is up there is a extra dry reef during the day time. There is no wind associated with the rising of Takelo, but the wind becomes stronger toward the end of the day when the sea returns to the reef. When Takelo rises above the horizon it is the start of 2 months of weather. The first month is bad weather with wind, rain, and rough seas. The second month the wind is not strong, there is no rain and no rough seas. Sino is the brightest star in the sky – Sirius – and this is the center of the constellation Manu – which stretches widely across the sky. The other two stars are pictured as being the "wings" (Papakau Ndeni and Papakau) of Sino. When Papakau Ndeni rises there is a strong wind from Te Ulu for one day. When Papakau rises there is no strong wind. Papakau is farther from Sino than is Papakau Ndeni. The picture of why this is the case is that the short Papakau is a broken wing. speakers call the "Southern Cross." There is no wind associated with Kaua Kaua Kona are the stars that form the diamond in what English Kona. LuooNa`i is the two "pointer stars" of the Southern Cross. When LuouNa`i rises there is one day of strong wind coming from variable directions. When Sino rises there is 5 days of westerly winds. Salo Tapio is 5 stars that form the picture of taro with two leaves, but no fruit underneath. There is no wind associated with Salo Tapio. Salo Lavoi is 10 stars that form the picture of taro with two leaves (these are the same shape as Salo Tapio) along with 5 stars that are the fruit (corm) of the taro underneath. This Salo shows the way to Tikopia in Oct/Nove/Dec. There is no wind in it. Kilika is the next constellation to rise and is not in this diagram. d. Diagram 9 is under construction. It will show the correlations between the Rise and Set and the wind positions for several stars: Kaua Kona rises in Te Ulu Tonga and sets in Te Haka Hiu Laki Luona`I rises in Te Ulu Tonga, and sets in Te Haka Hiu Laki. These two are paired Salo rises in Te Ulu Tonga and sets in Te Hakahiu Laki. Sino rises in Te Tonga and sets in Te Hakahiu Laki. Takelo rises in Te Tonga and sets in Te Tokelau Hakahiu. Lua Tawawa #1 rises in Te Tokelau Tu and sets in Te Tokelau Hakahiu Lua Tawawa #2 rises in Te Palapu and sets in Te Tokelau Hetu. MDavo rises in Te Alunga and sets in Te Tokelau Palapu. The return of Hetu Mdavo rises in Te Alunga and sets in Te Tokelau The short Papakau rises in Te Alunga tonga and sets in Te TokelauThe long Papakau Ndeni rises in Te Ulu and sets in Te Hakahiu Laki The behaviors of these celestial bodies will be checked for consistency with astronomical tables for 10 degrees South. Diagram 10) Routes Between Islands correlated with wind positions that are useful – The data for this diagram has been updated from what was originally published on the www.vaka.org website - to include more island to island routes including in the Bank islands of Vanuatu and to Sikiana. The new diagram is presently under reconstruction. NohoangaTeMatangi10.gif Diagram 11) Star Courses for Particular Routes. This diagram is under construction, and is conceptualized as an elaboration of diagram 10. New data will be incorporated with data from 1993 – 2006. |
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II. NAVIGATION USING SWELLS AND WAVES – HOKOHUA LOA AND HOKOHUA KIKO
Data was elaborated that added to and built upon previously conveyed data (during 27 inter-island voyages in the Santa Cruz Group and between Taumako and New Zealand in small sailboats during 1993 - 2005). The new data includes various drawings and discussions of how one senses the phenomena and how widespread it is, and in three demonstrations at sea (outside the fringing reef) within 5 n.m. of Taumako during the 2008 field season. Kaveia explained and showed me refracted and reflected swells and waves. at sea dozens of times during 1993 - 2005…but always when we were aboard sailboats rather than Taumako canoes The three diagrams (below) of reflected and refracted swells shown in We The Navigators and Vaka Moana are helpful in understanding the drawing that Kaveia made in the sand showing the wave articulations he used in navigation when drifting aboard a ship between Taumako and Nifiloli in 2004.  
In the photo below Te Aliki Kaveia draws in the sand to answer the question of the young man – "How did you know we had not drifted past Nifiloli?" The drift that the young man refers to was a disabled government ship that drifted for a period of nearly 3 days in very poor visibility because of rain and fog. The ships captain had no use of his compass or instruments and did not know where they were. Kaveia had told the passengers that they were still on the Taumako side of Nifiloli and there was nothing to worry about. Here he explains how he knew… Below Kaveia draws a swell diagram in the sand (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Below is a K. Kaveia and M. George re-drawing of Kaveia's diagram in the sand, which shows the refracted and reflected swell patterns between Taumako and Nifiloli 
This diagram above, and other explanatory, simpler, diagrams I will transcribe from drawings Kaveia made in the sand, bear interesting similarities to the "Mattang chart" used in Marshall Islands (below). These will be elaborated in a full report and should be the subject of future crosscultural research. 
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III.) NAVIGATION AND PILOTING USING TE LAPA – "THE FLASHING" -
FLASHES OF LIGHT THAT EMANATE FROM LAND
Elaborations on previously conveyed and demonstrated data was given by Kaveia several other people who took voyages. A summary list of distinct characteristics of te lapa and a complex diagram that has comparative value for Marshallese diagrams is given here. General Characteristics of Te Lapa:
The Te Puke in this diagram below is located in that part of the ocean where accomplished navigators sail to with students so that they may see te lapa coming from every island in the santa Cruz Group (see white dotted lines) simultaneously. Five swells commonly observed in this area and in the Pacific in general are depicted as the long, gently curving lines from NW (north hemisphere storm swell), SW (south hemisphere storm swell), E and/or SE (south hemisphere trade swell) and NE (north hemisphere trade swell). Te Aliki Kaveia confirmed the accuracy of this sketch by M. George. 
A sea trial to this site under good viewing conditions is a high priority for future research |
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IV.) SAILING (HOLO HOLAU ) METHODS and STRATEGIES
This data includes: 1) Methods and Strategies of sailing Taumako canoes There is new data about sailng methods based on 6 days of sailing offshore and 3 days of maneuvering and sailing on within the fringing reef. There is new data on sailing strategies with Taumako canoes is relevant to voyages within Temotu and some of it in greater Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.. Data includes remembered, storied, and planned voyages. 2) Selection and Functions of the crews Detailed data was recorded for the 2007 – 2008 crew consideration and selection process for sailing days and for voyages being planned The actual function of each crew and the crew as a whole was recorded during 6 days of sailing during 2007 and 2008. These records are widely scattered in field notes and will take time to write up and organize. |
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V.) PERFORMANCE OF TAUMAKO CANOES AND CREWS
No instruments were available on the canoes when they were sailing offshore of Taumako during 2007 – 2008, other than GPS. The winds were very light and the distances were relatively short and within 5 miles of shore, so that data is not of much interest. [Image to be added] Te Alolili exiting the passage fronting Makoi at Taumako in May, 2008 (photo by H. M. Wyeth) [Image to be added] Te Aliki Kaveia checking the leading wind to Reefs in the evening, May, 2008. (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Backsighting from Taumako (photo by M George) [Image to be added] sailmaster demonstrating how to steer (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] trainee steering – (photo be M. George) [Image to be added] crew demonstrating that no one needs to steer when the sails are properly set on a Taumako vessel. (Photo by M. George) [Image to be added] oceanic bailer used on Taumako voyaging canoes - with internal handle – useful when bailing straight up (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] bailing crewman works inside the riser of te alolili (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] First step in shunting – loose the halyard to drop the sail (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Two crew gather the booms and sail (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] The foredeck crewman unsteps the sail and helps raise mast /pivot it up (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] The crew pivot the mast and sail over to the other end/the new bow. Note that one man holds the sail rig. Another holds the mast. Two others guide the booms of the sail and the ropes (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Foredeck crew helps crew re-set the mast on new bow (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] The foredeck crewman re-steps the sail at the new bow. The sailmaster begins to haul in the halyard to lift the sail up tightly to the mast (photo by M. George). [Image to be added] Two tealolili returning to Taumako in evening (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Two tealolili sailing toward reef passage after sunset (photo by Wade Fairley of the BBC) [Image to be added] |
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VI) CONSTRUCTION OF CANOES – METHODS, DESIGN, MATERIALS, TOOLS, ETC.
The extensive data collected by M. George and other VTP researcher prior to the NSF research has been filled out by the NSF data - in numerous details of names and precise dimensions of parts, as well as better understanding of the functions of some of them. The standard use of two utongi on the te alolili design, and the existence of a design in which the main hull is not hollowed out were new data. Elaborate diagrams of the parts will be constructed. More research into the botanical names of the various plant materials used is advisable. Currently the data comprises a list of the names, function, and precise dimensions of every piece and material used in both the te puke design and the te alolili design of voyaging canoe. Photos and/or video recordings document the harvesting and construction of every part and material. Until now I have identified botanical names for only several of the scores of plants and trees used in construction. Pounding coconut husks to access the long fibers for making sennit (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] An infant learning how (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] A line of cordage makers follow the twisting revolutions of the leader (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Te Aliki Kaveia removes the caulk on the fastening of the tetau (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] A breadfruit tree is harvested for use as an te ama (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] carpenters adze the mast head (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] burnishing the hole in the mast head with firebrand (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] picking limu to make into paint for the canoe (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] trainee learning to twist noa rope for running rigging (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] lashing te alolili outrigger (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] younger man (new generation of trainees) shows older how to do the most difficult lashing (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] adzing the utongi for the main hull of te alolili (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] The Following Photos are excerpted from an extensive series showing sail weaving, lofting, measurements, sewing, and testing: Weavers nearing completion of the long outside edge panel (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] Mother's Union trainees and experienced weavers making sail panels (photo by M. George) [Image to be added] [Image to be added] sewing the bolt rope into the exterior panels (photo M. George) [Image to be added] lofting outer panels of sail of te alolili on sand (photo M. George) [Image to be added] Adding interior panels (photo M. George) [Image to be added] measuring placement of inner curve (photo M. George) [Image to be added] folding panels over bolt rope to form inner curve (photo M. George) [Image to be added] shaping inner curve (photo M. George) [Image to be added] Eyeballing the shape of the inner curve and tips (photo M. George) [Image to be added] carving mangrove root for sail sewing (photo M. George) [Image to be added] measuring width of tips for symmetry side to side (photo M. George) [Image to be added] Sewing the inner curve (photo M. George) [Image to be added] lashing the tips (photo M. George) [Image to be added] sewing the tack (photo M. George) [Image to be added] lashing uppermost flexible, member of boom (photo M. George) [Image to be added] checking new sail for symmetry (photo M. George) [Image to be added] |
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VII. – PLANNING OF VOYAGES, VOYAGING STRATEGIES , CULTURAL PROTOCOLS,
EXCHANGES OF VALUABLES AND TRADING OF GOODS, COMMUNICATION METHODS
The data is most informative with respect to voyaging to and from Reefs, Santa Cruz, Vanikoro, Tikopia, Vanuatu This data is widely dispersed in the field notes from 1993 to 2008, and will take time to write up and organize. VIII. – VOYAGING STORIES, VOYAGER BIOGRAPHIES, REFLECTIONS, AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DESCRIPTIONS Much of the 2007 - 2008 data is about Vanuatu voyages, relations, and historical voyages and contacts. Numerous corrections and elaborations of biographies of voyagers aand historically significant voyage accounts were recorded Te Aliki Kaveia – a serene face at sea. [Image to be added] IX. Some Reflections on the suitability of the Data Reported Here to address the Hypotheses of this Study: The first general hypothesis we made in our research proposal was: "Taumako navigation constitutes a system of knowledge, practice, and material technology that demonstrates internal consistency and external adaptations to the environmental contexts of sailing in the region of Taumako voyaging." There is substantive data with which to test this hypothesis in that numerous features of the wind compass (including calendrical seasons, wind directions, star courses, passage of the sun, navigational routing) have been specified and can be correlated with canoe technology, which is also highly specified data. It also can be correlatd with the specific actions and goals of indigenous voyaging. However, because of the very limited instances of actually sailing in the canoes, only limited assessment can be made at this time regarding how the navigational system relates to specific environmental factors such as actual wind speeds and direction, patterns of shifting winds, ocean currents and swells, and island geography in the region of Taumako voyaging. The second general hypothesis we made in our research proposal was: "Taumako voyaging involves an orientation system for navigating at sea that is consonant with land based strategies for spatial arrangements of cultural significance such as district or village locations, positioning references for individuals vis-a-vis each other or environmental landmarks, and directional strategies for travel from place to place on land." Comparison and contrast of cultural data gathered by Feinberg and Westner, and navigational data gathered by M. George, should yield some answers to this hypothesis. Another, more specific hypothesis we made was: The Taumako wind-compass is abstract representation of wind positions and behavior comparable to the abstract Carolinian star compass, and navigators refer to actual star, wind, wave, and swell bearings to keep on course. Data I report here have details on how the navigational system of Taumako people models seasonal wind shifts into their system, and also suggests roles that ocean waves and swells play in their system. Regarding the distinctions between navigation and piloting – it is clear in this data that te lapa is useful in both navigation and piloting. However it is difficult to record te lapa and more night sailing is required, particularly in areas where more than one te lapa may be sighted simultaneously, in order to further define the phenomena. |
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