Los Pescadores De "Trépang"

A novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows the adventures of Captain Van-Stael, his two young nephews, Hans and Cornelio, and a crew of Chinese fishermen as they venture to the Australian coast for the lucrative harvest of a mollusk called ''trépang''. The group faces significant dangers, including encounters with hostile Australian natives and the treacherous nature of the fishing trade. At the start of the novel, the characters are aboard a traditional Chinese vessel, the junco, as they navigate the Australian coastline in April 1850. The Captain, experienced but cautious, scans the shore for signs of life, with his two nephews anxiously awaiting his observations. As they approach a bay known for its plentiful ''trépang'', tension builds due to the fear of potential attacks from Indigenous Australians, known for their cannibalistic practices. The opening establishes a vivid sense of the setting, introducing key characters, their mission, and the ominous foreshadowing of conflict that drives the narrative forward.