172 
THE TROPiCAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, iggi. 
Strachsn has for some years past been opeDing up 
a trade in Dutch New Guinea, the Malay Archipelago, 
and other places, even now a terra incognita for 
other British traders than liinisel), wiili retults that 
promise great things iu tlie near future for the com- 
merce of this coloKj. fu the taut little brig ' Bovy,' 
90 tons burden, Mrs. Strachan was on the last three 
voyages her husband's helpmate and companion 
being in fact the only oiher 'white man 'onboard. 
A good failor, a fair navigator, able to take her 
irick at the wheel, she was equal to any position, 
from euperoargo to chief mate, and it was while 
acting in the latter capacity that she proved herself 
B brave woman, full of k-esources and equal^ to a;iy 
emergency. On his last voyage Captain Strachan 
had for his crew a number of kanakas, a Malay 
HS chief mate, and Mrs, Strachan, who was entered 
on the ship's papers aa supero.irgo. After leaving 
Towusville the Malay began to shuw he was anything 
but a desirable member of the ship's crew. He 
became icsolent aad insubor.liuatej and, to add 
to these charms of demeanour, Captain Strachan 
heard at Somerset, Mr. Jardiue's station in Albany 
Pass, that bis first officer was anything but 
wliat he had represented bimself to be on 
Bhipping. At Thursday Island ho bore the repu- 
tation of a sullen, morose fellow, who, at certain 
phases of the m.oon.waa givea to enter upon anindisori- 
minata carving ot his coloured cornpatriotSj and a dark 
cloud hung over him in connection with the violent 
death of one of his countrymen at Towusville. As the 
voyage proceeded matters with the mate became worse, 
until one day they reached a crisis, and Captain Strachan 
calling the crew aft disrated the Malay, and duly in- 
stalled Mrs. Strachan into tha position of next iu com- 
mend 1 3 himself, the crew promising their allegiance 
to the new order of affairs, But the Mab.y :it onca 
commenced to attempt either to cajole or intimidate 
the crew into insubordination and revo't, and it became 
necessary to place him uiidn- anct iu irons. Sj the 
voyage proceeded. Island after island was visited an<\ 
the vessel's hold began graiually to fill with nnlmtgs 
and mace, deers' horns and hccho-do-mer, pearl-shell and 
valuable timber of beauteous graia ; her decks became 
nlive with rare birds and rarer beasts ; and the ship 
everywhere showed signs ol" having cntf red npon a pros- 
peiousand pioatuble trade. fSutoii all sides the captaia 
heard tales of troublesome times. Hero a party of Arab 
tra /erahad been murdered iu cold blood while partaking 
of the hof-pitality of their treacherous hosts; there 
came warnings of plots to cut off and seize the 
ship ; everywhere the necessity for precaution 
existed, and the strain of anxiety became trying 
and severe, in the morning the vessel would be 
crowded with savages greedy for trade— more 
greedy for murder, spoliation and the subsequent can- 
nibal feast— with au armsd guard of kanakas at the 
hatchways, the captain and his wife, both with each 
hand on the butt end of their revolvers, carried on the 
perilous trade, and the holds of the ship each week 
reached nearer the desired complement until at last 
the trading was over, the batches battened down, arid 
the vessel's head pointed homeward. Then, as the ship 
Elowly sailed past or lay htcalraed at the different io- 
Ittuds, couBtiut watch bad to be kept upon the numer- 
ous canoep, full of armed men which glided as noise- 
leisly through the dark waters of the night, as dots a 
Boake through the grass. Through these anxious times 
Mrs. Strachan, the chief mate of the ' Envy,' was et-er 
at hnr post. Her eye ever quick to see approaching 
danger— her hand ever ready to keep up the constant 
fusilade of canuon or rauskatry or to send heavenwar 1 
the fiery rocket to scare away their cowardly foes. 
At lougth the ship reached more open waters nnd the 
heavy strain was removed ; but with the relaxation 
came even more trying times for tho brave woman 
who htd passed through so mach with daimtless 
courage. Upon Captain Strachan the constant anxiety 
for tli° safety of his wife and hia ship, tho incessant 
toil and exposure left their mark. Fight as he would 
against it, au enervating lassitude crept over him till 
at last he lay helpless in hia cabin. The cook 
bIko fell ill, and upon Mrs, Straoban dcvolven 
tljg jRbli of uavigating ih<i ' B«vy ' tbrowgn ftft on 
charted sen and acting as nurse to the invalids 
besides provisioning and keeping up the spirits of 
the reraaicider cf the crei'-. Kobly she did her duty, 
but th.'Ugh her courage hud been frec'y tried it 
had yet to uiidergo a more severe ordeal. Stand, 
ing at the wheel one evening she saw the sun 
£0 down upon an angry sea and rising storm 
aad all the unknown perils of the night to be con- 
frorit d without her husbsnl's aid. Hastily def- 
cending into the cbin she tiieJ to arouse him 
suifi iently to obtain a few necessary iustruclioDs 
for her guidance during the storm then so fast 
approaching. But ehe tried in vain. As e 11 try 
to arouse the dead as one so pros'rate audun con- 
scious as was her husband. The exhaustion following 
upon his long sustained exertions claimed bini aa 
its victim and Mrs. . Strachan was cast upon her 
own resources. Soon the wind shrieked through 
the rigging with hurricane torce, aud the vessel rose 
and fell upon the stormlashed waters like a bl'nd man 
pushed on by an irresistible force to an unknown 
destination. With stern set face and strained eyes 
Mrs. Strachan kept her post at the wheel, her 
voice, rising high above that of the storm king, 
ever and anon directing the kboura of the crew. 
Then for a moniont c»me a lull ; the lightning's 
glare and tho thunder's roar ceased aud— then with 
redoubled fore?, the harric»ne burst upon the 
vess«l aud all seemed lost. Careering over the tops 
of the masts met as though ia a last embrace 
with the crests of the angry waves ; the sails burst 
asunder with a noic3 ag of the cannon's roar, and 
their shreds were scattered far aud wide. Sud- 
denly the scene was illuminated by an electric glare 
of more than ordinary duration, and by its lurid light 
Mrs. Strachan saw the mutinous Malay loosing with 
his hands or slashing with his knife every piece of 
rope or rigging with which be came in contact. 
Beckoning one of tho kanaka crew to the wheel, she 
made her way towards the desperate mutineer, aud 
when once again the darkness of the night was dis- 
ptrsed by the lightning's flash the woman and one 
madman were seen confronting each other. He with 
upraised knife aud glaring eye, she with levelled 
revolver and undaunted look. The conflict was but 
momentary. He like a beaten cur crept back to his 
lair; she like the heroine she was, went steadily back 
to the wheel, and whon morning dawned the ship 
was safe, and a few days after Captain Strachan was 
ecabled to assume command and bring his vessel 
safely into port. As shovviog the sort of man Mrs. 
istrachan had to deal with, it may be stated that 
although the Malay was afterwards re-ironed he was 
able to throw them at the feet of the police officer 
who came aboard at Brisbane to arrest him and say, 
in so many words, no irons could hold him. In a 
few days the ' Envy' will once again steer her course 
to the scenes of her former perils and once again 
Mrs. Strachan will form portion of her crow. There 
has arisen a doubt in the miuds of those in authority 
as to whether her husband can ship her, as he wishes 
to do, as his chief officer, but in whatever capacity 
she ' signs articles ' Mrs. Strachau's many friends 
will wish her a prosperous pilgrimage among the 
isles ot savagery and fpices aud a safe and spsedy 
" return ' home.' "— <S'. F. Press, July 15th. 
Tassianian Apples. — During the month ending 
June 30th of tho present year there were imported 
into the United Kingdom no less than 64.034 bushels 
ot apples, of the value at £37,854, aa against 8,798 
bushels, valued at £6, "237 in the corresponding month 
of 1890. This remarkable increase is entirely due 
to the large shipments received from Tasmania and 
New Zealand, which, arriving at a time when the 
supplies from America are almost over, have met 
with an eager demand at remunerative rates. So 
satieflod are the Australasian growers with the results 
aohievod that preparations are being made for still 
larger supplies to bo placed upon the English markets 
during the next BeaBon.— rimes Weehhj Edition, 
July 10th, 
