BIBOS CAVI FRONS, the Gyal; Garfeus gaurus. BIBIVA. MAltn. Semecarpus anacardium. BICIIE DA MAR. IIolothuria, sp.
}Foy-shun, . . . ODIN. ifolothurion, . . LAT. Swalloe of traders, ENO. Suala, sIALAv. Sea-slug,Sea cucumber, „ Tripang, , . .
Beebe de mer,. POUT., Fx. Balate, . . .
Species of Holothuria are found in most of the shallow seas of the Malay and Philippine Archipela gos, near Ceylon, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Polynesia, in the upper part of the Gulf of Siam, and are so abundant on the northern coast of Australia, that the people of Celebes, receiving advances from the resident Chinese, have been long in the habit of making annual voyages thither in quest of it. Its only market is that of China, to which many hundred tons are yearly sent, for the consumption of the curious epicures of that country. The fishery of the trepang is to China what that of the sardine, tunny, and anchovy is to Europe. It is for the most part caught by hand, for it has little power of locomotion, but in deep water, some times by diving. The great sources of wealth of the Aru Islands are the pearl and trepang banks, on the eastern side of the group. These extend the entire length of the islands, and are often several miles in width, being intersected by deep channels, some of which will admit vessels of burden.. The greater portion is caught in shallow water, where it can be picked up off the bank without diving. It is produced in• the greatest abundance' on small coral islands, especially those to the south and east of the Sulu group. The trepang on that coast is of several varieties.
It is sometimes two feet long ; but its common length is from four to ten inches, and its diameter two or three. Its tentacular are short, and when the animal is captured, arc folded up under its body. The trepang is first thrown into a kettle filled with boiling sea-water, after a few minutes it is removed and gutted. It is then thrown into a second kettle, where a small quantity of water and the parching rind of a mimosa pro duce dense vapours. This is done to smoke the trepang for better preservation. Finally, it is dried in the sun, or in ease of bad weather under a shed. For a long time the Chinese were the sole carriers of the article, but foreigners now engage in the trade. A great deal of this article is imported into Macao, in junks and Portuguese vessels. In the market it appears hard and rigid, and has a dirty brown colour ; when brought to the table, it resembles pork rind in colour and consistency. The Chinese use it by itself, or as an ingredient in other dishes, and consume large quantities, under the belief that it is au aphrodisiac. The varieties into which they divide it are above thirty, varying in price from $80 down to $11 per pikul, but unless one I. well acquainted with the article, it is impossible to distinguish them. In the Chinese tariff, all the sorts are arranged under the two heads of black and white.—Jour. Ind. Arch. iv. p. 480 ; llon. Mr. Itforrison's Com pendious History; Cratefurd's Dictionary; Faulk ner. See Holothuria ; Trepang.