110007 If you looked up the little island of Tana Masa on the map you would find it just on the Equator, not far south of Sumatra; but if you were on the deck of the Kandong Bandoeng and asked its captain, J. van Toch, what he thought of this Tana Masa where you’ve just dropped anchor he would first curse for a short while and then he would tell you that it’s the dirtiest hole all the Sunda Islands, even more loathsome than Tana Bala and easily as damnable as Pini or Banyak; that the only apology for a human being that lives there — not counting these louse-ridden Bataks, of course — is a drunken commercial agent, a cross between a Cuban and a Portuguese, and an even bigger thief, pagan and pig than the whole of Cuba and the whole of the white race put together; if there’s anything in this world that’s damnable then it’s the damned life on this damned Tana Masa.
110008 And then, you might cautiously ask him why it is that he’s just dropped his damned anchor as if he wanted to spend three damned days here; at which he would snort in irritation and grumble something about not being so damned stupid as to sail all the way to Kandon Bandoeng just to get this damned copra or palm oil, and there’s nothing else here, but I’ve got my damned orders, and you will please be so kind as to mind your own damned business.
110009 And he would carry on cursing as widely and as fully as you might expect from a sea captain who was no longer young but still lively for his age.
110010 But if, instead of asking all sorts of impertinent questions, you left Captain J. van Toch to grumble and curse by himself you might find out something more.
110011 Surely it’s obvious the man needs a rest.
110012 Just leave him alone, he can sort out his foul mood by himself.
110013 “Listen!”
110014 the captain said suddenly.
110015 “Those damned Jew-boys back in Amsterdam, all they seem to think about is pearls.
110016 Have a look around you; can you see any pearls?
110017 They say the people are crazy round here for pearls and that sort of thing.”