THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, H’qi. 
Straoban baa for aoino years paat been opening up 
a trade in Dutch New Guinea, the Malay Archipelago, 
and other places, even now a terra incoijnita for 
otlicr British traders tlian himself, wilh rcMilts that 
promise great things in tlio near futnro fortbocom- 
raeroe of this colony, fu the taut little brig ‘ Euvy,’ 
90 tons harden, Mrs. Straohan was on the last three 
voyages her husband's helpmate and companion 
being in fact the only other ‘white man ’on board. 
A good sailor, a fair navigator, able to take her 
trick at tho wheel, aha was equal to any position, 
froru supercargo to chief luato, and it was while 
acting in tho latter capacity that she proved heracll 
a brave wumtii, full of resources aud equal to »uy 
emergency. On his last voyage Oaptaiu Strachaii 
had for his crew a number of kanakas, a Malay 
IIS chief mate, and Mrs. Strachan, who was entered 
on the ship's papers no superoargo. After leaving 
Towuaville the Malay hogau to show he was anything 
but a draitablo member of the ships crew. Ho 
booanio iusolont and iusubor.Uuate, and, to add 
to those charms of demosnoor. Captain Straohan 
heard at Someisst, Mr. Jardine’s station in Albany 
Pass, that his first cflloor was auythiiig but 
what he hod ropresentod himSclf to bo on 
shipping. At Thursday Island he bora the repu- 
tation of a snIlcD, morose fellow, who, at certain 
phases of the moon, was given to enter upon an iudisori- 
miuste csrviug ol liis colonri d compatriots, and a dark 
cloud huug over him in connection with the violent 
death of one of his oouolryuiou at Townsville. As the 
voyage proceeded matters with the mate become worse, 
until one day they reached a crisis, and Captain Straohan 
catling lha crew aft disrated tho Malay, and duly in- 
stalled Mrs. Strachan into tlia position of next in oora- 
mciid to himself, tho crew promising their oUeginuce 
to the new order of affairs. But the Malay at ocoa 
commenced to attempt either to cajole or intimidate 
the crew into insubordination and rovo.t, and it beosmo 
necersary to place him nod r ario t iu irons. So tho 
voyage proceeded. Island alter island was visited and 
the veisoTs hold began gradually to fill with nu;meg» 
and mace, dorrs’ horns aud heche-de-mcr, pearl-shell aud 
valuable timbor of beautrons grain ; her decks became 
nlivo with rare birds and rarer hcasts ; and the ship 
everywhere showed tigna of having out rod npoii u |)ror- 
p' rousnnd profitable trade. Buton all sidea tho c.iplaiii 
heard tales ol trouhlesomo times. Hero a parky of Arab 
tra CIS had been murdered in cold blood while partaking 
of tho hospitality of their treacherous hosts; there 
came warnings of plots to out elf and seizo the 
ship- everywhere the noocssity for precaution 
existi’d, and the strain ot anxiety becamu trying 
and Bi vere, iu the morning the vessel would be 
crowded with savages greedy for trade-more 
greedy for murder, spoliation ami the subsequent can- 
nibal feast— with an armid guard of kanakas at the 
hatchways, the captain and bis wife, both with each 
band on the butt end of their revolvers, earned on the 
perilous trade, and the bolds of the ship each 
reached nearer the desirud complement until at last 
tho trading was over, tlie liatches battened down, tiuci 
the vosBors bead pointed homeward. Then, as the ship 
slowly aiiilcd past or lay becalmed at the ditforeut is- 
lands, oonstaut watch had to bo kept upon tho numer- 
ous canoe.*, full of armed mou which glided us noise- 
loislv through the dark waters of tho night, a* do- s u 
snake through tho grass. Through lhe.se anxious times 
Mrs Straohnu, the chief mate of tho ‘ Envy,’ was over 
nt her post. Her eye ever quick to see approaching 
sueet-her hand evir ready to keep up the constant 
fusilade of csnuoii or musketry or to send heavenward 
h^fiTy rocket to scare away their cowardly foes. 
At leogth tho ship reached more open waters and tho 
heavy strain was removed ; but with the relaxation 
oZi even mo*o trying limes for the bmve woman 
who htd passed through so mach with dauiitlers 
contago. Upon Captain Straohan the constant anxiety 
lor the sifuty ot his wife and his ship, tho incessant 
toil and expoiure left their mark- Fight as ' 
against it, an enervating lassitude crept over him till 
at last be lay helpless in bis cabin. Xbe cook 
also fell ill, and upon Mrs. Straohan do vol von 
tl)« (ask ol navigatiog tb« • ilovy ’ tbroviijQ #u aa 
chartcil son and acting ns nurse to the invalids 
besides provisioning and keeping up tho spirits ot 
tho rotnaiiider cf the crew. Nobly she did her duty, 
but th.uigh her ccurugu hud been frec'y triod it 
Imd yet to ubdorgo a more severe ordinl. Stand- 
ing at the wheel one evening she saw the shn 
go down upon nn angry sea and rising storm 
and all the unknown poiilr of tho night to be con- 
front'd without her husbanl's aid. Hastily dis- 
cending into tbo c.bin she tried to arouse him 
siith iently to obtain a few necospary instructions 
for her guidav.oa duiing the storm thou so fast 
approBchiug. But ebo tried in vain. As e 11 try 
to arouse the dead as one so pros'rato aiidun eon- 
soious as was her husband. The e-vhiinstion following 
upon his long sustained exertions claimed him as 
its victim and Mrs. btraehan was asst upon her 
own resources. Boon the wind shrieked through 
the rigging with hurricane torce, aud the vessel rose 
and fell upon the stornilashed waters like a blind man 
pushed on by an irfosistiblo toroe to an unknown 
destination. With stern set face and strained eyes 
Mrs, Straohan kept her post at tbo wheel, her 
voice, rising high above that of tho storm king, 
ever and anon directing the labours of the erew. 
Then for a moment esmo a lull ; the liahining’s 
glare and the thuuder’s roar ceased and— tnen with 
redoubled force, tbo burrieiue burst upon the 
vessel aud all seemed lost. Oateeting over the tops 
of the masts met as though la a last embrace 
with the orosta of tbe angry waves; the sails burst 
asunder with a noios aa ot the oaunon's roar, and 
their shreds were scattered far and wide. Sud- 
denly the scene was illuminated by an eicctrio glare 
of more than ordinary duratiou, and by its lurid light 
Mrs. Strachan saw the mutinous Malay loosiug with 
his bands or slasbiug with his knife every piece of 
rope or rigging with which ho came in coutsot. 
Beckoning one of the kanaka crew to the wheel, she 
made her way towards the desperate mutineer, aud 
when ouoo again the darkness of tho night was dis- 
persed by the lightning's flash tho woman and one 
madman were seen confronting each other. Ha with 
upraised knife and glaring eye, she with levelled 
revolver and undaunted look. The conflict was but 
momentary. He like a beaten cur crept back to bis 
lair ; she like the heroine she was, went steadily back 
to the wheel, and whoa morning dawned the ship 
was safe, aud a few days after Captain Straohan was 
enabled to assume command and bring his vessel 
safely into port. Aa showing tlie sort of man Mrs. 
stmehan had to deal with, it may bo stated that 
although tho M-.lay was afterwards re-ironod he was 
able to throw them at the feet ol the police olTiocr 
who came aboard at Brisbane to arrest him and Bay, 
In so many words, no irons could hold him. In a 
few days tho ‘ Envy* will once again steer her course 
to the Roenoa of her former perils and odoo affain 
Mrs. Strachan will form portion ot her otow. There 
has arisen a doubt in tho minds of those in authority 
ns to whether her hu^sband can ship her, as he wishes 
to do, as his chief o&oer, hut iu whatever capacity 
she • signs articles Mrs. Strachau’s many friends 
will wish her a proRpeious pilgrimage amooff tho 
isles of savagery and ipiocs and a safe and speedy 
" return ‘ homo, July 16th. 
Tasiiani.\n Apples. — During the month ending 
June 30th of tho present year thoro were imported 
into tho United Kingdom no less than G4,034 bushels 
of apples, of the value at £37,864, as against 8,798 
bushels, valued at £(;,‘J37 jn the corresponding month 
of 1890. This remarkable inorosso is entirely due 
to the largo shipments received from Tasmania and 
New Zealand, which, arriving at a time when tho 
supplies from America ore almost over, have met 
with an eager demand at remunerative rates. So 
satisUod are the Australasian growers with the results 
achieved that preparations are being made for still 
larger supplies to ba placed upon the English markets 
during the next season.— Time* IFeeh']/ UditioHi 
July 10th, 
