The Voyage to Marege': Macassan Trepangers in Northern Australia Tapa blanda - 1976

Paperback / softback. New.

Paperback / softback. New. This book throws open an entirely new window upon Australian history. Almost a century before Captain Cook voyaged along Australia's north-east coast, sailors from Asia were frequent visitors to Marege' (as they called the region) and had even established an industry there. Men from Macassar made the long and dangerous voyage to gather and to dry the trepang (beche-de-mer or sea slug) so prized as culinary delicacy by the Chinese. Trade between Australia and China thus was already old, long before the first export cargo sailed from Sydney Town. This history of Australia's early contact with the world outside is consequently very different from the account commonly accepted up to now; even aboriginal art, so long regarded as wholly isolated from external influence, is shown by Dr Macknight to employ themes from overseas. This strikingly original contribution to the maritime and commercial history of the region is unique also in the diverse sources and… Leer más