Royal Commonwealth Society : Navigational chart: Meddo chart (former ref: 1927-7)

Royal Commonwealth Society

<p style='text-align: justify;'> One of a collection of four traditional 'stick charts' produced in the Marshall Islands archipelago, possibly in or around Jaluit Atoll; the date and makers are unknown. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> This is thought to be a local or regional chart representing a portion of the island chain in the surrounds of Jaluit, including Ebon, Memorik, Kili, Ailungslablab, and in the centre, Jaluit itself. Three shells are present; the shell representing Jailut appears to have fallen off. [Source: Lyons, Batchelor]. The exhibition history of this object is unknown.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Bibliography: Col. Sir Henry Lyons, F.R.S, 'The sailing charts of the Marshall Islanders: a paper read at the afternoon meeting of the Society, 14 May 1928' [and the Discussion that followed], Geographical Journal, 72/4 (Oct. 1928), 325–328. Robert Batchelor, 'Extrastate Development: Marshallese Stick Charts and the Politics of Infrastructure in the Nineteenth-Century Pacific', forthcoming (2025) chapter in De Gruyter's Yearbook on Environment, Technology and Development.</p>