Fijian chiefs came to realize the value of the beche-de-mer and in 1852, Cakobau attempted to make use of it to pay for a ship which he had ordered. The attempt was unsuccessful, however, and in the end he had to take two shiploads of his people to New Caledonia, to collect beche-de-mer there. A desultory trade continued during the following twenty years.
http://www.janesoceania.com/fiji_discovery1/index.htm
Filed under: 1852, Traders, beche-de-mer
