50 
William H. Alkire 
Anthropos 65. 1970 
of Pole Charts. One begins with a point of departure and recites all islands 
and reference points found along the particular star course from that point 
to a particular terminal island. In most cases the recitation proceeds from 
west to east. 
Following, for example, an Altair course (Fig. 19/1) and departing from Mangas 
(an unidentified location said to be in the Philippines) the Pole leads to Palau, thence 
to Eauripik, Pasilifeimag, Ochailamos, Pulusuk (Sog), Namoluk (Lamolug), Laoro, and 
finally terminates at Metangachig. Ideally, of course, there would only be one Pole Chart 
for each course, but in the case of Altair there are three. In part, the variation in Poles 
for the same star course can be attributed to different points of departure. Variable 
currents may also account for different references appearing along Poles of the same 
star. The third Pole of Altair, for example, also has Mangas as its point of departure, 
then it runs to Yapisach, “two large porpoises" (ruomosos), “two bonito” (ruogarangap), 
“two wahoo” (ruongal), “two breadfruit leaves” [rualchulmaogwiang), and so on until 
it terminates at Ochalgaiusam. As Fig. 19 shows, certain Pole Charts, although they 
cover the same general area, give greater detail for specific subdivisions of it than do 
others. During an actual voyage, if a Pole Chart is referred to, the one which most in 
tensively covers the region in which the canoe is located will be the one called to mind. 
Thus Pole 3 is of more use when sailing from Mangas to Ngulu or Fais than is Pole 1. 
MAILAP 1 
MAILAP 2 
MAILAP 3 
MAGARAGAR 
Metangachig — 
Ochalgaiusam — 
Faraulep — 
Lhnago — 
Seo och — 
Semoinug — 
Laoro — 
Faluel- 
laubwushoi — 
Fais — 
Pigailo — 
Olimarao — 
Lamolug — 
Sog (Pulusuk) — 
Wahu —• 
Pigailo — 
Ngulu — 
Ruangal — 
Semoichulsong — 
Fas — 
Ifaluk — 
Seotagurar — 
Ochailamos — 
Olimarao — 
Fas — 
Ruogogulfufi — 
Rualchul 
Eauripik — 
Semoigu — 
Seosug — 
Pasilifeimag — 
Ifaluk - 
maogwiang — 
Sonsoral — 
Eauripik — 
Mural — 
Ruongal — 
Merir — 
Seogiitaf — 
Eauripik — 
Ruogarangap — 
Seo och — 
Palau — 
Sonsoral — 
Merir — 
Ruomosos — 
Yapisach — 
Ruotangar — 
Ruomasos — 
Yapisach — 
Mangas — 
Ulat- 
Mangas — 
Mangas — 
Fig. 19