40 



ON THE COLLECTION AND PREPARATION FOR MARKET OF 

 THE BECHE DE MER OR TRIPANG IN THE* PACIFIC. 



BT CAPTAIN ANDREW CHEYNE. 



As my chief object in visiting the different islands in the Western Pacific 

 was for the purpose of forming establishments for collecting and curing 

 beche de mer for the China market, I shall give a description of the different 

 species, together with remarks on collecting and curing it, being the result 

 of five years' experience in that particular branch of trade. 



There are many kinds of beche de mer (species of the genus Holuthuria) 

 found on coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean ; but only ten of these varieties 

 are marketable in China, each being distinguished by well known names. 

 As they vary in price from six to thirty-five Spanish dollars per picul 

 (133^ lbs.), it becomes a matter of great importance to obtain the superior 

 qualities. The slug when cured presents quite a different appearance to 

 what it does when caught ; and no person but one well acquainted with the 

 trade would be able to ascertain which were the first quality, by comparing 

 the raw slug with a cured one. Again, the success of a voyage depends 

 greatly on the knowledge possessed by the person in charge of the localities 

 in which the superior sorts are to be found, together with much experience 

 in the mode of fishing and curing them. 



The superior qualities are known by the following names in the Sooloo 

 and Manila markets: — 1. Bangkolungan ; 2. Keeskeesan; 3. Talepan ; 4. 

 Munang ; each presenting a different appearance, and found in different 

 depths of water on the reefs. 



1. Bangkolungan, when caught, is from eleven to fifteen inches in 

 length, of an oval shape, brown on the back, and the belly white 

 and crusted with lime, with a row of teats on each side the belly. 

 It is hard, rigid, and scarcely possesses any power of locomotion. It has, 

 however, the power of expanding and contracting itself at pleasure. This 

 quality is found on the inner edge of coral reefs, in from two to ten fathoms 

 water, and on a bottom of coral and sand. It can only be procured by 

 diving. 



2. Keeskeesan is from six to twelve inches in length, of an oval shape, quite 

 black, and smooth on the back, with a dark greyish belly, and one row of 

 teats on each side. When contracted, it is similar in shape to a land tor- 

 toise. This quality is found in shallow water, on the top of coral reefs, and 

 on a bottom of coral and sand. Bangkolungan and Keeskeesan fetch about 

 the same price ; and the latter being the most plentiful and easiest caught, 

 ought of course to be the kind most sought after. 



3. Talepan varies in length from nine inches to two feet, and presents the 

 most remarkable appearance of any of the species of beche de mer. It is 

 found on all parts of the reefs, but chiefly in from two to three fathoms 



