Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-07
FOODS FOR THE TROPICS.

Boston Herald: Our war with Spain,
besides extending our geography, has
called to our attention a wide range of
tropical dishes. Among the novelties is
the tropang of the Paciic-the Holo-
thuria edulis, or, as it is commercially
known. the beche-de-mer. Beche-de-
mer literally spade of the seal is an
accommodation of the Portuguese name
bich-do-mar. meaning worm of the sea,
sea slug, and, for sake of brevity, slug
it is commonly called. Beche-de-mer is
more applicable to the spade shaped
character of the slug when dried and
pressed.
The tropang is found principally on
the coral reefs of the eastern seas, and
Is highly esteemed as an article of food
in China and the Philippines. The slug
resembles a stout worm covered with
a great number of wart-like tubercles
which terminaet at the mouth in a
fiower-shaped sucker. The tropang va
f1ower-shaped sucker. The trepang va
ries in length from six to t~wenty-four
inches, and is of that peculiar dual ma
ture which. for a long time, was termed
"animal plant for it attaches itself to
the coral reefs, where it lazily grows tail
uppermost, waving its length like the
sea grasses.
OF the numerous kinds of beche-de-
mer found OF the coral reefs of the Pa
cifc but ten are marketable in China
These are all known by special names,
and they are used in the preparation OF
rich soups.
The superior qualities are known by
the following names in the sooloo and
Manila markets.: l, Bangkolungan: 2.
Keeskeesan; 5, Talepan; 4, Munang,
each presenting a different appearance
and found I'M different depths of waetl
ON the reefs.
Bangkolungan is from eleven to fifteen
inches in length, of an a shape, brown
on the back. and the belly white and
| crusted with lime. It is hard, rigid and
scarcely possesses any power of loco
motion. 1t is found ON the inner edge OF
coral reefs, in from two to ten fathoms
OF water, and ON a bottom of coral and
sand. 1t can be got only by diving, and
ut is worth, dried, on an average of 5000
a tom
Keeskeesan is from six to twelve inches
In length, of an oval shape, black and
| smooth on hi back, with a dark gray
ish belly. When contracted it is similal
in shape to a land tortoise. 1t is found
in shallow water, on top of coral reefs
, and on a bottom Of cora and sand. They
are generally valued at $175 a ton.
Talepan varies i'm length from nine
inches to W feet. 1t is found on all
| parts OF the reefs. 1t is of a dark red
color and narrow. It brings about $1O(
| a ton.
Munang is of a small size, seldom ex.
ceeding eight inches in length, of ar
oval shape, quite black n smooth, and
is found in shallow water on Thu cora
flats, and often among turtle grass neal
the shore. The value Is about SOS a ton
,Balati banco Is about min inches II
length. OF an oval shape, and in colol
from orange to white. It is found gen.
orally on the inner edge OF reefs and or
a sandy bottom. Moonlight nights ART
the best time for collecting them, q!
they usually bury themselves in tn.
sand during the day. They bring be
| tween $50 and $50 a ton.
The taking Of the tropang ia the small
! est part Of the difficulty. The hardesN
task lies in the proper curing or SUI
drying, and It is due to the delicacy O