<p> 1 Jaredite Journey by Sea</p><p> by Capt Richard Rothery, Rtd..</p><p> update January 2012.****</p><p>As a forward to this paper on trans oceanic migration in general and in particular to the Jaredite voyage... we should fully understand that this contribution covers most of the essentials for a successful outcome of the voyage and will be understood fully only by those with a good understanding of all technical aspects of maritime voyaging, certainly not by our average reader who should look for qualified assurance from one whose qualifications, knowledge and experience are at least equal to my own. I have read many papers touching on this subject and, so far, all prove disappointing as the writers, though well intentioned practicing scholars, are or were not qualified in marine sciences.</p><p>For your information and re-assurance, my experience covers 30 years of maritime experience, son of a master mariner, himself renowned for his ability and two brothers also master mariners, so it was in the blood, so to speak, and we all took great pride in following the tradition and in our individual accomplishments in many different types of vessel, merchant and naval, sail and powered.</p><p>My own experience ranges from tin canoe through racing yacht, passenger/cargo ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, Ro-Ro’s, around the entire Australian coast, New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, numerous pacific islands, Philippines, China, Taiwan, Japan, USA, Canada, Venezuela, Panama, U.K.. For the added experience I went as 2nd Mate of a sailing brigantine for five weeks and also, for the experience, commanded a steel barge carrying copper concentrates on the Fly River in New Guinea for six months, 650 miles from loading port up river down to a terminal ship moored off the entrance, where I learned first hand that rivers have shallows and just one deep channel which varied location in accord with the flow and bends in the river. I first went to sea age 17 in August 1944 serving one year WW2 carrying military supplies. My voyages being coastal and international gave me experience in many diverse situations aboard many types of vessel. </p><p>The subjects of ship construction, cargo stowage, stability, meteorology and worldwide ocean surface currents were particular favorites of mine, because they are natural elements of particular concern to every ship’s Master and served me well in many situations. Those in command of each scriptural migration would have to have a good knowledge of those above. In each case the Lord would ensure this. </p><p>*****The barges mentioned in Ether 2:6 obviously must refer to those mentioned in verse 16. Not to stop at the first land they come to as they travel on the sea; but continue until they arrive where He wants herds of animals to be established at the promised land ready for use by Nephi’s group. He will ensure they arrive in the shortest time possible. The upper deck must be enclosed and tight like a dish except for air vents which must be securely closed in bad weather and together with the hole in bottom, wedged tightly shut. When tightly shut, the barges would be watertight capsules until the stormy weather cleared...about 12-18 hrs if a typhoon during which waves would engulf completely. Ether 2 : 16-17, Ether 6 : 6-7</p><p>Upon my conversion and reading Ether in the Book of Mormon I could see where a knowledge of these subjects would be essential before making the voyage . Feeling a strong prompting to invite the missionaries in and having them answer my questions as regards infant baptism and Bible 2 reading was a real spiritual conversion. After reading the book I was still interested in proving that the 344 day voyage complied with practical navigational facts. It certainly does, so there lies not only spiritual proof but another technical proof as well. It would have been utterly impossible for Joseph Smith to be conversant with the ocean currents and prevailing winds of the world and to say the voyage took 344 days.. Nobody on Earth was aware of that knowledge in his day.</p><p>Why barges and not a ship like Nephi’s...... The Lord wanted herds of animals to be established on the land for use by Nephi and his group when they arrived. Barges were more suitable for the animals as the barges could more easily make calls at beaches along the way to replenish their stocks of fodder and to take the animals ashore for R’nR instead of being cooped up in a confined barge for more than a year. Far too dangerous for ships with V shaped hulls to make those calls, and even if lying at anchor off a beach, too difficult to bring the fodder stocks aboard or to take the animals ashore. With bow ramps provided on the barges they could simply walk ashore with their handlers. Also the barges would be loaded so that they are deeper in the water at the stern than at the bow. Perhaps two feet forward and five to six feet aft. This way they would naturally and easily lie more stern to the wind so they would not roll so much when the sea anchors are not in use. Therefore much safer and practical for that particular purpose. </p><p>Ether 6:11 states the Jaredites were “.. driven forth 344 days upon the water”.This would not include time spent at frequent stopovers where stocks of animal fodder were replenished. Ether 6:11 states the barges were driven forth ...... upon the water. Of course the winds would blow against the above water structure of the barge causing drift which supplemented by the surface current, would create the speed mentioned. Having a knowledge of the world’s ocean currents and prevailing winds I can honestly say the voyage was possible under the conditions described in the B.O.M. Most people would say they must have used sails to get anywhere and be more like the vessels of that era voyaging across the Arabian sea. Those people are not conversant with marine science and did not note Ether 2 : 16....!!! I say emphatically they would have been carried on the ocean currents (conveyor, plus drift) to their destination in the time stated and without sails. Sails would require men on deck and that is not safely possible with these small vessels in moderate to rough conditions at sea. If under sail throughout, the voyage time would be nearly halved and that did not happen. They were in a vessel ‘tight like unto a dish’ Ether 2:17, hole in the top and also in the bottom.. Ether 2:20 Top for ventilation and a bottom well type hole, with it’s top above the outside water level, for refuse disposal and fishing. These holes or openings must be fastened tightly closed during rough weather when ‘.... they were many times buried in the depths of the sea because of the mountain waves which broke upon them.’ Ether 6:6 Some assume this indicates they were like submarines. No, see Ether 2:16. 3 De-mountable mast and sails could be carried but; to use only when within calm waters in order to beach head in for replenishment of fodder for the animals. Anchors must be deployed in deeper water from each quarter to keep the stern in deep water and by which to haul out away from the beach when departing. When beached, a headline must be taken to a rock or beach anchor to hold the barge on the beach. When not in use the mast and anchors must be lashed securely on deck, the sails and ropes taken below. One or two canvas or wicker drogue or sea anchors should be deployed from the stern to keep the stern up to weather and prevent broaching as the barge is driven by the wind through the sea. A spar or wooden beam dragged sideways on a bridle would be equally effective. Two sea anchors out all the time would be much safer and effective as one will eventually break up and have to be replaced. All ship’s lifeboats are provided with a ‘sea anchor’ to prevent broaching side on to the waves. As with lifeboats, a rudder would be essential to maintain stern to weather when the sea anchor breaks away until a fresh one can be deployed. These sea anchors are made from wicker and or canvas streamed at the end of ropes. The tiller could still be handled within as the helmsman can feel by the vessels movement when rudder is necessary and which way to apply it. Anyone going out on deck would require lifelines to prevent going overboard. 4 The stopovers would be frequent as stocks of fodder would not last more than one, two or three months at most with rationing and would be welcomed by all aboard as an opportunity for R ‘n R and to gather some fresh produce. Also, the temptation would be great to remain at any of the stopovers; but the Lord required them at their destination and would ensure they continued on. ...Ether 2:7. Faith and prayer would ensure their safe arrival..Ether 2:5. Ether 2:6 surely refers to oceans and seas as it does in 1 Nephi 13:12. </p><p>The surface currents of the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal rotate anti clockwise during the NE Monsoon and reverse to clockwise during the SW Monsoon. Therefore the barges would put to sea from Khor Rori, (present day Oman), about May/June to be carried on their way around India across the Bay of Bengal, down the Malacca strait up past China on the China current and Japan on the Kuroshio across the North Pacific, down the west coast on the California current to the equator then close inshore on the warm counter current past Ecuador to Northern Peru.</p><p>For a time it was assumed they would land somewhere around Guatemala. However, recent archaeological studies seem to confirm they were carried further down to Northern Peru on the warm counter current which runs close inshore in the summer. Such counter currents are common in many parts of the world and are used by some mariners (myself included) to make better time on a voyage. They are usually close inshore i.e. to about 1 mile offshore, 1/4 ml off some steep to headlands. They could have made either destination in the stated time. </p><p>Fresh water, an absolute essential, would be provided from side tanks built in along each side of the barge. About 2-3 feet wide, 40 feet long and 10 feet deep with wash boards to stop surge, they would not only provide up to about 5,000 gals, but the weight, about 10 tons each side would act as a stabilizer ensuring a comfortable ride and safety from excessive rolling. Its called “winging out weights”. It also raises the centre of gravity thus reducing the metacentric height, which is the distance between the centre of gravity and the metacenter this also modifies the rolling. The metacenter is located at the intersection of the vertical lines through the centers of buoyancy in the initial and slightly inclined positions.</p><p>For example, a yacht has a heavy weight centered at the keel resulting in violent rolling when disabled, or not under sail. Rolling is moderated also by streaming out a sea anchor which will bring the head or stern up to weather and also by raising the weights towards the metacenter.</p><p>Imagine a heavy weight held at the chest or at outstretched arm length. Rolling side to side is much slower when the weight is outstretched. These side tanks would be filled through stoppable valves from rain falling on the deck, first giving it time to wash clean of salt before opening the valves. This structure also adds to the overall strength of the barge and cools the barge interior. These valves can be made from wood or iron.</p><p>Every day the people would be assigned various duties to maintain cleanliness, looking after each other and the animals needs, maintaining safety standards and avoiding boredom etc. The Lord would ensure the barges didn’t hit any obstructions and were moving towards their destination. </p><p>I am attaching an outline map of the world to indicate the approximate track followed and sketch of the barge showing possible dimensions, construction and arrangement as well as it’s approximate draft. Actual track followed would vary depending on season etc. Distance roughly 14000 mls over 344 days gives speed of about 1.8 knots average, which would equate approximately to current speed plus drift forward under force of the wind.</p><p>Any journey requires careful planning and provisioning taking absolutely every eventuality into account, whether by land, sea, air or space. Neither Noah, the brother of Jared, the Mulekites nor 5 Nephi new their destination nor what direction to travel without faith and, if provided, a Liahona. No geographical knowledge, no maps or charts, no navigational equipment, no GPS. Therefore they were completely in the hands of the Lord in that regard. If you asked them where they were headed they wouldn’t know. Lehi/Nephi had a Liahona which told them which way to go on land. It worked also at sea until Laman and Lemuel took over. As they had no faith it stopped working until they released Nephi and allowed him to regain control. </p><p>The many foreign artifacts coming to light around the world prove beyond doubt that transoceanic exploration, migration and trade have been taking place for thousands of years. The conventional distrust of the sea should ultimately be displaced as people realize the sea is no more fearsome than the land but; in fact is quite as safe as the land, even safer than the land, given an understanding of it. Travel was more comfortable as they used the wind and currents to do the work while they were carried along. Better than riding a camel or trudging along with a back pack over hills and through rain constantly bitten by mosquitoes. The Earth was organized with rivers, lakes, seas and oceans for several reasons. All of them good and for our benefit. However, before using them... know how to use them. A balsa wood raft, La Balsa, made a voyage in 1973, Ecuador to Australia, 8564 miles in 192 days i.e. 1.86 knots. They used the southern equatorial current all the way.</p><p>Moroni’s abridgment of Ether’s writings, without a technical knowledge of marine science, leaves open the possibility of errors in concept or translation by our finite minds. The reader must picture the environment correctly and apply the correct translation to the words used. It is difficult to explain when most people, without a knowledge of the marine science (environment), cannot discern the meaning or picture the situation in their minds.</p><p>Ether 2:6 ‘...they did travel in the wilderness (land and sea wilderness), and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.’ Many waters meaning many seas, after leaving Bountiful.</p><p>The term ‘Wilderness‘ may refer to land or sea. After all, why go to the trouble and time, maybe six to twelve months to build barges to cross a lake? Walk around it of course!!!! If a river, build rafts to cross, if timber is available. Rafts are simple and easy and disposable. They can be pulled across after first stretching a rope across the river. </p><p>Ether 2:7... ‘And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness....’ i.e. at one of the replenishment stops beyond the many stretches of sea (wilderness) as they progressed towards their ultimate destination, the land of promise, where the Lord would tell them.... ‘stop here, this is the place’. </p><p>Ether 2:16... ‘And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built.’..... They came from a place far from the sea but alongside a river, where they had been employed at some time building river barges. River barges have flat bottoms because, in some places the river may be only about six feet deep. traveling up or down a river requires great skill and knowledge to stick to the deeper channels and avoid getting stuck on the many sand banks. ( I know from personal experience on the Fly River in New Guinea. I was master of copper barges plying that (650 ml) river for six months for the experience. I was also 2nd Mate of a brigantine for six weeks for the experience. ) 6 Ether 2:17... These seagoing barges were length of a tree, i.e. for strength, ease of construction, easier handling on and off beaches, and exceedingly tight like a dish all over, top and bottom, sides and ends which is a little different from river barges which have large openings or hatchways along the top. I’m sure the Lord’s knowledge of ship construction would be complete and cater for any circumstance like ‘beaching’ at one of the many replenishment stopovers or withstanding the punishments of a Typhoon. His barges had to be tough. His knowledge would not be restricted to what was popular at sea in that era. His instructions included at least one item which was not implemented until our age i.e. the hole in the bottom,(Ether 2:20), essential for refuse disposal and fishing by people who could not go up on deck to dispose of their rubbish. Currently used on modern drill ships. The bottom hole has sides reaching above the waterline and a cover which can be made watertight by wedging. Beaching requires a flat or nearly flat bottom. The seagoing vessels of that age plying between Red sea, Persian gulf, India, had V shaped hulls also masts and sails, steered by an oar over the stern held firmly between pegs in the gunwale or rowlocks set into the gunwale. Those v shaped hulls enabled sailing straight without much side drift, not essential here as the Lord was ensuring the wind blew them in the right direction all the way without side drift, and definitely without sails as they would require men on deck constantly, a definite no no as they would soon be lost overboard. A more modern type rudder was probably used as it can be controlled from within by a tiller and is essential to avoid broaching to a following sea. That is also the purpose of the sea anchor. The door... probably in the bow, which is the strongest and most practical situation and faces away from the stormy seas and will allow direct access to the beach when the barge is beached. This would likely drop down like a landing barge, not custom in that era, nor was the ‘hole in the bottom’; but the Lord would provide the most practical, and they must also be wedged tight like a dish when closed. The ends would be peaked to afford extra buoyancy (lift) to an advancing swell or wave. More modern ships adopted the forecastle and poop to provide for this. Notice that the Lord is implementing technology not thought of in those days but very effective for that situation. Ether 2:20... The upper deck would have one, preferably two openings for refreshing the air. virtually essential, for that very important purpose and a hole in the bottom for disposal of refuse (and for fishing) but; these holes must be tight like a dish when wedged closed in stormy weather... If personnel had to venture on deck for anything e.g. re-deploying the sea anchor, they must have lifelines attached to waists to slide along a tight fore and aft line and save them slipping and sliding overboard. No deck housing or bulwarks as that would be torn off in heavy seas, likewise, no sails.....Ether 6:6 In a typhoon the barge would be virtually completely submerged by the seas pounding and washing overall. Ether 2:16 and Ether 6:6...... The essential sea anchor(s) would then provide reasonable safety and comfort for those within. Without sea anchors and rudder all would be lost as with any ship’s lifeboat in similar circumstances. Dried food supplies would be stowed on the floor of cabins to about three or four feet deep, covered with soft matting..... people sleep on top. Food cold... Sorry, no cooking.. unless ashore at stopovers. Cold sashimi is a favorite of mine, also dried fruit and oats. If the barges were designed with sails like the ocean going barges or small ships of that time they would require a course to steer, therefore a Liahona or an accurate knowledge of the world’s oceans and coastlines and ocean currents recorded on charts and a knowledge of world meteorology, all of which was not yet available in that age. Local knowledge at that time extended only as far as India, Persian Gulf west coast of Africa and Red Sea. Only the Lord had that worldwide knowledge like we have today and he caused the wind to blow them in the right direction throughout the voyage.. Ether 6:5-11.. That 7 wind also caused the ocean surface currents to carry them along. Average speed between 1 and 2 knots overall. i.e. drift plus current. My estimate of the approximate track followed on the voyage remains the same and accords with the prevailing ocean surface currents which have remained the same for aeons of time. All this is additional technical proof that the B o M is obviously and factually true... Joseph Smith being young and with only basic education could not author such a book; but could have translated it in the short time it took him to produce it. To say the voyage took 344 days (traveling) upon the water, being quite accurate, indicates that statement was not his. No person on earth at that time had that knowledge. The church is therefore undeniably true.! Anybody who thinks otherwise needs help! Some have suggested they would travel via the Great Southern Ocean. Referred to sometimes as The Roaring Forties.. Yes, it would be shorter but, storms down there produce tremendous seas and last for days, not just hour's like the North Pacific. Also very few suitable stopping places to restock with animal fodder. I would appreciate any comments from suitably qualified persons...... My email address <[email protected]> or call me on Skype, contact using that email as ID or... rstinger. A professional drawing gratefully received follows...... </p><p>:</p><p>:</p><p>:</p><p>:</p><p>: 8 </p>