1849: How Captain Wallis made his fortune in Fiji

In 1849, Captain Wallis got a cargo worth nearly 6,000 pounds in about nine months. The articles of trade were similar to those used for the purchase of sandalwood, but reflected the changed conditions among the native people; muskets and ammunition were most desired, but whales’ teeth, iron tools, beads and ornaments had their place. [...]

How the Fiji beche-de-mer trade cycle made millionaires

(In April 1830 ) the Clay (259 tons) of Salem arrived. during the ‘forties, the (beche-de-mer) trade was at its height, and a number of ships from New England ports made regular voyages.

Beachcombers sold beche-de-mer, mended muskets, cast bullets for chiefs

At Bau, beach-combers were not allowed to wear European dress; and the first thing the Nairal natives did to the castaways from the Eliza was to take away their clothes and give them loin-cloths of native bark cloth, such as they wore themselves. As a rule, however, these men were exceedingly well treated by the [...]

Mata-ki-Bau: David Whippy, an American from New Hampshire came to Fiji in 1822

“David Whippy, an American from New Hampshire, who, as a mere lad, came to Fiji in 1822 on a beche-de-mer ship commanded by his brother. Being badly treated, he ran away, and settled on the beach at Levuka. Here his industry and steadiness gained him the respect and good-will of whites and chefs alike.
Mata-ki-Bau (ambassador [...]

1829: Chinese demand for sea-slugs (Holothuria) - beche-de-mer, trapang- attracts traders to Fiji

The sea-slugs (Holothuria) variously known as beche-de-mer, trapang, and dri, are found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They were - and are - plentiful on the reefs of Fiji, especially in the shallow and quiet seas that cover the wide reef flats off the leeward coasts of the two large [...]

1852: Cakobau sends people to New Caledonia, to collect beche-de-mer

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 [...]

Beche-de-mer beach-side manufacturing process

In 1829 the Glide brought six Maoris from New Zealand to help in the beche-de-mer work. The beche-de-mer trader’s shore plant and equipment… were few, and of a kind easily put up by natives, with bush materials;
•  the “fish” were taken by …divers working from canoes, and without any special gear. When they were received [...]

Illegal to take 1879: Illegal to take beche-de-mer without a licence from the Governor.

in 1879, five years after the cession of Fiji to Great Britain, legislation was enacted to protect the interests of the Fijians against the depredations of visiting ships, and it became illegal to take beche-de-mer without a licence from the Governor.
http://www.janesoceania.com/fiji_discovery1/index.htm

1834: Veidovi, brother of the king of Rewa, kills American beche-de-mer entrpreneurs on Ono Island

In September, 1834Veidovi, brother of the king of Rewa, piloted the American brig Charles Doggett to Kaadavu. The brig anchored at Ono Island, and the mate landed with most of the crew (some of whom were Tahitians) to work in the vala house of their shore station there.
Death on 5th September: Veidovi and the [...]

In 1831 the Glide was anchored in the passage between Macuata Island and the mainland of Vanua Levu, loaded and ready to sail, when a hurricane blew up. After dragging her anchors for eight miles, she was blown on to the reef and lost (21st March, 1831). Her crew had not long to wait [...]