The morning call., 1893-12-10
PERFUME TRADING
A Schooner Filled With
Sweet OdOrs.
Captain Melander Has a Bride on
Strongs Island and Will Woo
Fortune There.

All manner of queer people 90 trading
nowadays among he islands of the South
Seas. The schooner Caleb Curtis started
the ball rolling by sailing for Butaritari in
command OF woman. The famed De
TOlna next followed with real live count
acting as skipper. and now comes the
small, stubby and Misunderstanding
schooner TuleBkun, now in Mission Flats,
which will shortly clear for Strongs
Island. The vessel is IN command of a
gentleman who has visited the Gilbert and
MAJ shall groups on more than one occa-
sion. traded among them and sold brass
jewelry to the natives, yet who declares be
knows nothing at all about that part of
the world in which he has spent SO many
months Of his life.
"You are going back to Strongs Island,
captain?" queried THE CALL reporter
yesterday.
YES" was the short reply.
"Can you tell me something about the
placeP L understand that you are one of
the few navigators who visit that section
OF the southern island groups"
But Captain Melander knew nothing
about Strongs lslapd. He could tell noth.
ing because he knew nothing, and would
not tell anything If he did. Nevertheless.
a good story was not spOiled.
The schooner Tulenkun arrived in port
on Novem ber "a from Strongs Island, one
OF the Gilbert gioup, and is now load ing to
return to that place. Vessels seldom if
ever trade in the vi unity of StroDgs Island,
and therefore the small but clumsy look I'M &
Tulenkun is regarded with some curiosity
BY those interested in trading in the South
Seas
Captain Melander is owner of the craft
and has taken into artnership his brother,
who has only recently returned from a
voyage 10 the north.
Strongs Island is no other than the home
OF the bride of CAPTAIN Meiander, for sew
eral moons ago he tOuk unto himself a
wife, charming maiden who now pre-
sides over his trading station in the far
away isle of the south. The gallant
skipper is said to have been completely
won by this vision OF island loveliness,
and this perhaps is the reason why he de-
sires TO fight shy OF newspaper men.
1t has so happened that Captain Melan-
der, with the evident object In view of
creating an impression with his wares for
trade among the Strongs Islanders, has
attended an uptown auction, and secured
supply of cheap but very OdOriferons
perfumes, which he intends to exchange
for copra and tropical fruits. Il Is the
possible outcome of such business ven
ture that is at present agitatiDg the sea-
fariug community
The question has been raised and has
not yet been answered. what are the
island bellies going to do with "Clubbin's 3
alleged new Dog L ,se" and other choi g
brands OF concentrated odors?
man with bOatoad of perfume, des-
tined for Strongs Island, will no doubt be
remembers for some time to come.
Yet Captain Melander declares that per.
fume-smelling in the South Seas Is not
altogether unheard of, and his brother
states that the native bellies 60 wild over
perfumery.
A large bottle Of Florida water. labeled
Extract of Roses" TEMPERED with little
genuine whisky. fetches enough cocoanuts
to set frultman up in business. This
class of perfume is used by the islanders
externally or intern ally, according to their
financial condition.
Jockey Club" and MUSK" 60 we'll with
cocoanut salad. and also help to lend tone
to the person of an aspirant for a warrior
hand In marriage.
quitoes, and also renders a banana more
palatable, while bay rum-well, bay rum is
much sought after, and anything on the
island, from queen to trained parrot.
| can be purchased for case of 1t.
Young girls and old maids prefer the
perfume as a toilet article, but the war
ri0rs would rather take it with a little
cocoaDut milk after meals OF before eating.
One bottle of ylang-ylang is worth copra
enough to weigh a hundred weight. while
other less strong extracts fetch enormous
prices.
When native uses perfume externally
he does so very cautiously. He dips a
small piece Of stick into the bottle and
touches each side of his nostrils.
1t will be several days before the Tulep-
kun will come to the dock, but when she
does she will Immediately fit out for her
return trip.
CAPTAIN Melander carries a native crew
10 his vessel and says they are good sailors,
StTongs Island is said to be very little
different from other South Sea islands. Its
population Is not, however, as we'll versed
in the art OF trading as IRE the inhabitants
OF neigboOrs. and the Tulenkun will prob.
ably have pretty good thing of it all by
herself.
Her skipper does not care to give any
particulars concerning his island wife and
she may be queen for all that any onf
knows.