MANIT Ekkar non Bwebwebnato eo ar itok jen ebeben ko an Marhall, aolepen wewen eo ar ijino ion eonene in Ailin in Namu ilo Ralik, elikin elon bwuki yio ko, mour im ber eo ar ber ilo wewen eo ejej bojen im jelok karokan, ien eo dri kwelok ro iman ilo bwij ko woj ilo Ralik im Ratak rar kweloklok ilo Temple eo an Anij Liwetonmour non air lelok kautiej im bok karokan mour eo jen Liwetonmour, im ar karok berber ko rej ejake karkarr im karokan bwij im jowi ko, bareinwot kien mour ko ren kar komon im weppen ekkar non berber ko. Ien eo ekar tobrak juon kon, rar jiton im na etan jowi ko non kajojo bwij ko einwot jino in oktan im karkar in eo jolete im nan lelok non ro nejier jen ebeben non ebeben ilo juon karok in jolit jen ro jineir im dror kakien ak bweo ko rebin ikijin mare ikotan armij ro juon wit air jowi. Kon eo ion Namu ar kwalok juon oran karkar in jowi ko eo ar laplok ikijien ekkar im ijiton ko lomaki einwot ke bwij ko jinoin rar ilok non air kalek jukjuk-im-ber ko rellaplok im lon lok wewen ko re ilo yio ko tokelik. Enin ekar jino in ien jibarek lonlok in bwirij im maron elikin jet buki yio ko bwij kein rar mour iben dron ilo jelok in aitwerok im ebelonlon. Jukjuk-im-ber ko woj ibelakin ailin ko rar edrek im laplok im jino air katkat ikijen maron ko ion bwirij im ilo jet ien, komon bata ko nae bwij im jowi ko jet. Kon eo ilo Namu einwot ekar komon im kwalok juon tokjen elonlok dri tel ro im armij ro rekajur im obtak kin jitpon kotobar wewen ko rekibbon non ir make im konan eo air non bok maron ion ro jet. Jorran eo ar walok jen an lonlok armij ilo an jelok im jabwe wawen in unjen ko ralikar im tobrak non mour eo air aikuij in kar kanuij kakajur an laplok air jibarek maron. Jet ian bwebwenato ko ikijen jibarek maron eo, emoj air kennan kake aibuijuij eo etto ien ko emoj air kar kememi anjo ko, driberan ro, dri jelalokjen ro, dri kabel ro, im ro jet ra kautiej ir im na wonen jerbal ko air kin kadkad im maron-im-jimwe ko ion bwirij ko rej kab bar buki iman madre. Bwebwenato ko ikijen jorren ko rellap non
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jukjuk-im-ber koi lo jeblekelek ko jet im rej kab kar ijino jen kijel im torlokoke jiban bwij ko rej rar bunleplep ion ailin kein einwot an kobata ko kakuri, rar kwalok bwe wawen kein rar kobek liklok edrek eo an Ralik im Ratak. Ijowotke, ilo wawen eo juon jibarek maron eo ar lap an iuni im kibel non an mokaj an kar tobrak im weppenlok kabel ko rellap ikijen meto, katu im bubu, ko rar komoli bwe jelalokjen ko elap tokjeir im remontata non bok anjo ko ion dri kijrat ro air. Kotobar maron eo im ar jelit aolepen bwij im jowi ko rellap ar itok non juon jemlok elikin juon ien eo aetok im lap an bin ilo bwebwenato ko an Republic eo an Marshall Islands. Einwot juon leen ak tobrak im kotabar maron eo ebin, ar jerkak im jutak jilu lol ko an iroij ro iumin jilu bwij im jowi ko rejibil jen dron ilo air kajur ioir make kajojo. Moktata lol eo an Lajirik, eo ekar ejak kin turilik in Ailinglaplap atoll, aolepen Namu, Ellip, Kwajalein, Ujae, Lae, Wotho, Rongelap, Rongrik, Ailinginanae, im Bikikin Atoll ilo motton eo ituean-iturilik in Marshall Islands; im motton eo ilo Utrik Atoll ak tokelik Raano ro rar bar boke. Kein Karuo, Lol eo an Errepra, eo ar ejak kin motton Ailinglaplap, Jebat, Jaluit, Kili, Namorik im Ebon Atoll ilo motton eo iturok-iturilik in Marshall Islands. Kein Kajilu, Lol eo an Drimwejor, eo ar ejak kin, Narikrik, Mili, Arno, Majuro, Aur, Maloelap, Erkup, Wotje, Jemo, Likiep, Ailuk, Utrik, Mejit, Toke, Bikar, Bokak, im EnenKio ilo motton eo iturok-tueon-irear in Marshall Islands. J’aikuij lale bwe aolepen ene im ailin ko iumin mona eo an Drimwejor, ijelokin wot; Arno atoll rar ilok non ro nejin jowi in , ro rar kajur lol eo air make einwot Raano. J’aikuij etal wot im lale bwe lol eo an Enewetak iturilik tata in Marshall Islands im mejit iturear tata in ratak rar jab drelon lok im bok konair ilo batan kotobar maron eo im rar ber wot ilo air jokane kin maron in air make ilo jelok in kabanban ko jen likin.
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Ilo an jemlok kotabar maron im tokjen ar jutak im alikar jilu lol ko rejibil jen dron, ien eo an Mantin Kairoijoij im kien ar ijino. Jeban bwij ko an iroij ro rar bukot bwe ren jab kaibuijuij im kejbarok wot maron ko an bwij ko air, ak rar bareinwot lelinlok AO in iroij eo air ilo air kajur im karok uitiejen im karkar in bwij ko air jen LON NON LOL. Karok lajrak ko ar wawa ion berber in jolit maron jen ro jineir. Ijelokin wonen ko liloki kin maron ko ion bwirij, title ak karkar ko rar bareinwot lilok ikijen beran, im jerbal ko jet im lol eo ekar nebari. Bwirij ko buki iman madre rar menin ajej ko lomaki im kabukonkoni lok non armij ro jitton ir. Kajur ro rar winin ir tok ilo bata ko im ejelok karkariir rar lelok im kajje jowi ko rekal, eindrein, oran jowi ko mokta iumin kon eo ilo Namu ar laplok. Ekar ien eo in ke rar kajur kien ko an iroij ro ke oktak eo jen jijjet im berber ko an kon eo ilo Namu ar walok. Juon jowi kal, etan “iroij” ar lotak im drelon lok ilo karokan jowi eo non kalikar karkar eo eutiejtata ilo lajrak in jowi ko. Nan in “iroj” ej melelen title ak lajrak eo eutiej tata im bareinwot ej jowi eo eutiej tata im rar karoke non kokojarjar an iroij ro koba, jabrewot ien rar aikuj, non kejbarok im drebij botokoki ir bwe en jab kobodren. Einwot juon wanjonok, ro iman ilo bwijin Errepra ro rar kobeleleik man im kora ro nejiir, ro jineeir im jemeir wot juon non air keotak ro nejiir Im ejjelok kajitok kake ir ke renaj kar erom jeban ro rekojarjar an jowi eo an iroij im rekkar im jimwe tata non joliti throne eo. Wawen eo juon kojerbal non kejbarok botoktok in iroij eo ilo an ejelok jorran im mojno ilo enwbin im komalij ko an iroij ro, ekar walok ilo air kar komareik leroij ro nejiir iben juon man eo kalete im utiejen wot e jen bwij ak lol ko jet. Einwot an ien motlok, rul im kakien ko rar tobrak im jerbal einwot menin kajmijmwe kelit iroij ro ilon im ro uan bwij ko air im emoj an kabodren botoktokiir iben jowi ko retta lok ak kajur ro. Motton rul kein rar kwalok bwe iroij ro ekar ereo im ekojarjar tata botoktokiir ar ilok title eo eutiejtata, “iroij pwio”, non ir. Title in ekka wot an kar ilok non
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juon eo ro jinen im jemen rar bareinwot iroij ro reuitej. Wawa ion berber ko ikijen jolit maron jen jiner, juon ajiri eo jinen ej Leroij, enaj kar ilok non title eo an iroij, mekwarta, jemen emaron kar juon bwirak ak juon lebwirak ak kajur. Juon ajiri eo jemen ej juon iroij ak bwirak, im jinen ej juon lebwirak ak kajur, enaj kar ilok non e title eo an bwirak. Ilo an laplok an kabodren botoktokin iroij eo enaj lelok non juon ajiri title eo an bwirak in ekmouj; ak elane ewonlolok wot im enaj kar juon ettok, lajrak eo iturin lajrak eo an kajur. Ak kar jutak karokan title ko im air ilok non ro telokiir ekar kanuij in lap tokjen ikijen maron, jeramon, lale armij im ikijen tarinae. An kar jerbal karokan title eo ar kariklok an tor botoktok ikijen kalit iroij ro iman im komone bwe ajeje edro ko an kien ko ren kar alikar lok im emon air jerbal. Ak bareinwot komon bwe wawen ajeje meniin jeramon ko ren kar jejit jokwiir im ar jerbal einwot juon karokan ajejej aikuij im edro ko an armij ikijien lol eo im bwirej ko. Ar bareinwot lap an kadik lok rimij ilo bata ko ilo jet ien ilo wawen eo ke elane juon ian iroij ro rej tarinae emij, inem ekar bar wor ainemon. J’aikuij linore bwe ar jutak kien ak kakien ko non komwo an class ko ilol lok ak kajur ro mon iroij ro. Ilo kobata, iroij ro wot rej jumaik dron im utiejier wot juon, renaj kar maron wot mon dron. Elon ian dribwebwenato ro an Marshall kalikar ke ilo jemlok in etale men otemjej, karok kein konono kaki iman rar ejake berber eo kien ak government ko etto rar ejak ioir im wonmanlok kin emonlok ko im kajimwe ko jen ien non ien non air maron mour ilo wawen ko rar oktak jen ien non ien. Juon ian motton bwebwenato kein ej kwalok ke mene government kein etto rar ejak einwot kien ko iumin king ro, kabilek im wappen eo jen bwij in iroij ro, bareinwot class ko iolap, im kajur ko, rar menin aikuij non komon jemlok ko r’aurok im ellap ikijen lol eo. Lol kein jilu einwot ad kar ba kaki iman, rar lor wot juon karokan kien im rule, “ARMIJ RO WOJ JEN LON NON LOL ILO WAWEN EO EKON IM EMON NON AOLEP.” By: Amata Sam Kabua
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TRANSLATION According to the Mythology having been passed on down through the Marshallese generations, it all began on the main island of Namu1 atoll in the Ralik Chain. After many hundreds of years of loose and unorganized existence, when the prominent representatives of the various tribes in the Ralik and Ratak Chains gathered at the Temple of Goddess Liwetoinmour to pay their homage and to receive the Divined Code from Liwetoinmour which set forth the principles underlying the formal identification and organization of the bwijs and jowis (tribes and clans) as well as the mores that were to be developed and ratified in accordance with those principles. When the accord was reached, each tribe was designated a named jowi as the basis of origin and identity to be inherited and passed on down to the off-springs from generation to generation through a system of matriacrchal heritage with the imposition of strict taboos on marriage between persons possessing identically homogenous jowi. The Namu accord produced a number of jowi identities which was subsequently increased considerably through evolutionary process of re-arrangement or re-designation as the original bwijs expanded and evolved into forming larger and more complex societies at later years. This was the beginning of an era of struggle for territory and power after several hundred years of naĂŻve and passive intra-tribal co-existence. The various societies throughout the islands grew larger and began to engage in geopolitics and at times in rivalry warfares with other tribes and clansmen. The Namu accord seemed to have produced as a consequence more exuberant leaders and people in general, who were highly motivated to pursue the selfish instinct and human desire for power and control. The adverse effect of the rapidly increased population without available and adequate natural and developed means and resources for their sustenance must have contributed a great deal for the augmentation of the power struggle. Some of the recollected accounts of the power struggle have told of the glorious past when victories were ostentatiously celebrated, the valors, wisdoms, skills, etc. were honored and rewarded with titles and land rights on the newly conquered territory. Stories of mass destruction by conflagration of sporadic and incipient societies and annihilation of prominent rival clansmen wrought on the islands by the ravaging wars have been accounted for as events and elements of retrogression in the overall growth of the Chains. However, on the other hand, the power struggle greatly influenced and conceivably forced the early achievement and refinement of the great arts of navigation, weather forecasting and event forecasting which proved essentially the most important and effective knowledges for assured attainment of victories over the adversaries. The power struggle which involved most the major bwijs and jowis came to an end after a long and extremely difficult period of time in the history of the Republic of 1
The first eight clans being Errepra, Ijjidrik, Dabdeb, Kalo, Jejed, Rikwajlein, Rikabinaelonin, and Erroja were the first in Bojar Namu where the Eonout (designated meeting place) was located as told by Amata Kabua but was later moved to Ailinglaplap and from Ailinglaplap, the clans transmigrated to the Ratak Chain and formed new jowis and bwijs. Some appeared in the capital of Majuro, some in Arno, some in Mili, and finally the whole of Marshall Islands. Per Hage in his assessment of the ralik genealogies also makes mention of the Eonout in Namu bojar being moved to Ailinglaplap as the political center of gravity shifted towards the southern atolls. Where Bojar, Namu is the home of the legendary Goddess Liwetoinmour; Wojja, Ailinglaplap where the Eonwout was moved to was the home of Liktanur, the mother of Jebro who is credited as being the inventor of the Sail.
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the Marshall Islands. As a result of the arduous power struggle, there emerged three kingdoms or dominions under the regimes of three separately autonomous bwijs and jowis: Firstly, the KINDGOM OF LAJIDRIK (generally referred to as Ijidrik) which encompassed the western part of Ailinglaplap Atoll, whole of Namu, Ellib, Kwajlein, Ujae, Lae, Wotho, Rongelap, Ailinginae, and Bikini Atolls in the North-Western part of the Marshall Islands; and part of Utrik atoll but subsequently taken back by Raano Clan. Secondly, the KINDGOM OF ERREPRA (often reffered to as Lareppra2), which encompassed part of Ailinglaplap Atoll, whole of Jabot, Jaluit, Kili, Namorik and Ebon atolls in the South-western part of the Marshall Islands. Thirdly, the KINGDOM OF DRIMWEJOR, wich encompassed Narikrik, Mille, Arno, Majuro, Aur, Maloelap, Erikup, Wotje, Likiep, Jemo, Ailuk, Toke, Utrik, Bikar, Bokak and Enenkio Atolls in the North/South-Eastern part of the Marshall Islands. It should be noted that most of the islands and atolls under the Drimwejor regime, with the exception of Arno Atoll, were given to the offspirngs of this clan. The offsprings established their own kingdoms or domains as Raano clans. It should be further noted that Enewetak Kingdom in the most Western part and Mejit3 in the Eastern part of the Marshall Islands were miraculously not involved in the power struggle and have been enjoying their own separate sovereignty without interruption form without. With the cessation of the power struggle which resulted in the formation and recognition of the three separate major dominions or states, the era of regality and governance began. The heads of the ruling clans sought to not only glorify and protect the ruling clan’s sovereign rights but also to promote their regal competence by establishing and classifying royal titles to be vested in the echelons of the ruling class. The classifaction system was premised on the existing matriarchal concept. Aside from landrights reward, titles were awarded for valors and other gallantry services to the state. The newly acquired territory would be subject to considered division and would be partialled out and assigned. New subjects won over by conquest and found without clear identity would be given new jowi, thus the number of jowi under the Namu accord increased. It was during this period of organizing the formal monarchial governments that the serious deviation from the norms and principles of the Namu accord was perpetrated. A new jowi, e.g. “iroij”, was born and infused into the clannish structure to signify the highest rank in the clannish totem pole. The term “iroij” connoted the highest title as well 2
Kramer and Erdland during the German era record the usage of the term Lareppra being used synonymously with the Errepra clan. 3 Kabua also asserts in his final published analysis that Mejit was part of the Rimwejoor regime but was lost in later years. Kramer and Nevermann note that Mejit was taken over by the Raur clan whose lineage are said to have originated from the atoll of Aur which was part of the Rimwejoor Kingdom. In fact Kabua as well as other reputable sources (Kramer/Tobin) showcase that clan names are also derived from their point of origin. In this complex yet simple case of linguistics, one can clearly see that the ruling clan of Mejit that exerted authority over Mejit thus establishing their own independent sovereignty was the Raur clan which originate from Aur (See Kabua’s Customary guideline in Brief). Additionally, the chiefs of Aur atoll were in fact the Rimwejoor Clan and their offsprings of the Raano Clan. Raano Clan like wise is said to mean Ri-Arno which entails the same logic of linguistics pinpointing the origin of the Raano Clan to be Arno atoll which the Rimwejoor clan were chiefs of and of course were the same kin with their Ranno offspring.
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as the highest rank in the clannish structure devised for the purpose of sanctifying the act and practice of incest whenever necessary by the ruling clans to protect and maintain their royal blue blood pure and intact. As an analogy, the ranking Errepra clansmen married their sons and daughters who were of same fathers and mothers to produce offsprings that would automatically become the sacrosanct rulers of the iroij jowi and most rightful heirs of the throne. Another method used for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the royal blue blood without endangering and weakening the physical and mental faculties of their successive rulers was to marry their leroij (iroij jowi) daughter with a selected male spouse of equal rank from another different clan and kingdom. As time passed, rules and rites were developed and promulgated as guidelines for the natural selection of their supreme rulers and for the clansmen whose blue blood had become diluted with the blood of the lower ranking jowi or commoners. Parts of these rules have revealed that rulers possessing purity of the blue blood in the highest degree would be given the highest title of “iroij pwieo”. This title is generally given to an iroij whose father and mother are both of high ranking iroijs. Based on the matriarchal principles, a child whose mother is a leroij (iroij), would be given the title of iroij, not withstanding the fact that his father might have been a “bwirak” or a commoner. A child whose father is either an iroij or a bwirak and the mother is either a lebwirak (bwirak) or a commoner, would be given the title of “bwirak”. Further dilution of the blue blood would entitle a child to be under the lower title of “bwirak in ik mouj”; or if even lower, he would be an “ettok”, a rank that is next to the rank of the commoners. The establishment of the system of entitlement and natural designation of titles were extremely important politically, economically, socially and even militarily speaking. Application and utilization of the system greatly mitigated the degree of bloodshed in the selection of rulers and made the assignment of the administrative burden more clear and effective. The system made the division of wealth more equitable and served as clearing house for human needs as well as responsibilities incident to the civil and land tenure ship. It did considerably reduce the tolls of occasional arm conflicts in the sense that if one of the rivalry rulers is slain, peace is restored. It should be noted, however, that consuetudes were established to forbid the lower class and the commoner warriors from slaying an iroij. In battle, he could only be killed by a rivalry iroij of equal rank. Many of the Marshallese historians noted that in the final analysis, the system served as the basis on which the ancient governments were formed and continued with improvements and refinements from time to time to meet the changing circumstances. A certain amount indicates that while the ancient governments were monarchial in nature, the advice and consent of the ruling clans as well as the bourgeoisie and the commoners were essential for making major decisions of the state. The three separate kingdoms basically followed the same pattern of governance and the people of various classes were governed ex ae-quo et bono.
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PERSONAL NOTES:
MANIT EO NIN rimajol rej bedbed ion kab lorre non rainin ilo an oktak wawein mour jen ien non ien. Me ke lal ko jet emoj aer kamakitkit temak im emenene ko an rutto kap alap ro ar etto, Manit eo ejjanin jakko ilo ar kalimjek Oktak ko rar walok ilo bwijin wawen toree ko an Missionary ro, Rigermany ro, Ri Japan ro, Ri-America ro, kab rainin ilo century ne rej naetan 21st century. Me ke oktak mour ran kein jen etto, jokjok ko rainin ej kalikar ke jibarbar eo ikijin MANIT eo aurok tata ejanin oktak bwe rul im kakien eo aurok tata ej kirlok rimajol bwe ren kemejmej ke ARMIJ RO WOJ JEN LON NON LOL ILO WAWEN EO ekkar tata, rej aikuj EKON IM EMON NON AOLEP. Mekwarta, oktak wawein mour rainin im enaj oktak jen ien non ien ilo ran kanne man rej bedro tok iliju im joklaj, MANIT in ekon im emon non aolep ejjab aikuj jakko bwe ej rul im kakien eo ej bedbed ion temak im emenene jen etto non kio bwe MANIT eo nin aurok tata in armij in Marshall Islands.
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