Why did Buginese and Makasarese fishers travel to the Northern Territory?

Buginese and Makasarese fishers, who became known collectively as "Makasans," traveled to the coast of the Northern Territory to harvest sea cucumbers, also known as trepang or bêche-de-mer.123

These fishers from the island of Celebes (Sulawesi) in the Malay Archipelago visited the Northern Territory regularly—possibly as early as the 16th or 17th century—to collect these marine animals for export to China, where they were highly valued for use in cuisine. Their presence on the coast of Arnhem Land had a significant impact on the local Aboriginal populations, influencing their art, music, ritual, and material culture.123