268 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



has ever done more towards the progress of discovery than 

 the tripang trade of China, not even excepting the whale- 

 fishery. The whale-men generally do but find islands, while 

 the Mche-de-mer fishers land and live upon them until their 

 cargoes are completed, and thus are enabled to supply in- 

 formation not otherwise obtainable. 



I have stated that the price of beche-de-mer in the markets 

 ranges from 60 to80 or even 100 a ton; these fluctua- 

 tions are not altogether owing to the laws of supply and 

 demand. There is always a great demand for tripang, and 

 the difference in price has generally occurred from the quality 

 of this stimulating delicacy. Of course this is a circumstance 

 over which the fishers have little or no control ; but John 

 Chinaman will never pay 80 a ton for tripang which is not 

 of a most luxurious description. 



Beche-de-mer fishing is one of the favourite avocations of the 

 better class of Pacific wanderers, who, if permanent residents 

 on any of its countless islands, would be called beachcombers. 

 They are usually rough and wild fellows, but very hospitable 

 and generous, dividing their profits as a rule very much to the 

 satisfaction of the Polynesians with whom they work in concert. 

 It may be noted that a thoroughly mean and sordid man can 

 never get on with the islanders. As the natives divide their 

 little gains among their friends, so when a papalagi goes into a 

 sort of partnership with them, they expect him to be equally 

 open-handed. These men are usually poor, but possess great 

 power among the savage tribes. It is a common practice with 

 them to build small craft with the assistance of the natives, 

 and in this sort of vessel to cruise from one desert island to 

 another, carrying cocoa-nuts for provender, and eking out the 

 rest of their subsistence by means of fish, turtle, and sea-birds' 

 eggs. When they reach an atoll which produces beche-de-mer 



