Hi everyone, I was hoping someone might be able to help me identify what is meant by a 'beche-la-mer' voyage. I have not seen this before. Thanking you Kind regards Leanne baulch Canberra

Not sure if this helps but from the website - http://www.escapeartist.com/efam18/Vanuatu.html ".....Some estimates are that the population of the approximately 83 major islands in this group, totaling about 4,700 square miles, was as many as a million people before the Europeans came in earnest in the early 1800's in search of four things: sandalwood (a rare sweet smelling wood popular with the Chinese as incense), beche-la-mer (or sea slugs, a very tasty and expensive delicacy, also traded with the Chinese), cheap labor (or blackbirding, where natives were rounded up for use on plantations), and conversion to Christianity. The net result, because of diseases against which the indigenous people had no defense, was the population collapsed to a low of about 40,000 by the 1930's. It's now about 175,000. Each of the islands had, and still has, a distinct culture...." -----Original Message----- From: Leanne Baulch [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 9:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AUS-IMM-SHIPS] What type of voyage? Hi everyone, I was hoping someone might be able to help me identify what is meant by a 'beche-la-mer' voyage. I have not seen this before. Thanking you Kind regards Leanne baulch Canberra ============================== Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx

Leanne, my dictionary says Trepang, - sea cucumber, or language of the S. W. Pacific, combining Malay and English. Edna MacPherson Sabato ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leanne Baulch" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 2:09 PM Subject: [AUS-IMM-SHIPS] What type of voyage? > Hi everyone, > I was hoping someone might be able to help me identify what is meant by a 'beche-la-mer' voyage. > I have not seen this before. > Thanking you > Kind regards > Leanne baulch > Canberra > ============================== > Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. > Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx

Hi Leanne, It is "Sea Slugs" Some estimates are that the population of the approximately 83 major islands in this group, totalling about 4,700 square miles, was as many as a million people before the Europeans came in earnest in the early 1800's in search of four things: sandalwood (a rare sweet smelling wood popular with the Chinese as incense), beche-la-mer (or sea slugs, a very tasty and expensive delicacy, also traded with the Chinese), cheap labour (or blackbirding, where natives were rounded up for use on plantations), and conversion to Christianity. The net result, because of diseases against which the indigenous people had no defence, was the population collapsed to a low of about 40,000 by the 1930's. It's now about 175,000. Each of the islands had, and still has, a distinct culture. From Paul Benyons site the following, The Elizabeth has returned from her sandalwood cruise, with about 120 tons on board. The brig Sir John Bing left Anatam for China the beginning of February, with a full cargo of sandalwood. The brig Spy, from China, was at the Isle of Pines in search of sandal. wood and beche-la-mer ; she had been rather unsuccessful. Kind regards, Lynne, Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leanne Baulch" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 2:09 PM Subject: [AUS-IMM-SHIPS] What type of voyage?