110228    And he demonstrated his point by pushing his oar down into the water.

110229    “it’s as if there were some kind of weir under the water.”

110230    The little Sinhalese did not come round until they were back on board; he sat with his knees under his chin, shaking from head to toe.

110231    The captain sent everyone away and sat down facing him with his legs wide apart.

110232    “Out with it,” he said.

110233    “What did you see down there?”

110234    “Djinns, Saheb,” whispered the slender Sinhalese; now even his eyelids had begun to shake, and the whole of his skin came out in goosepimples.

110235    “And … what did they look like?”

110236    the captain spluttered.

110237    “Like … like …”

110238    A strip of white appeared once more in the Sinhalese eyes.

110239    Captain J. van Toch, with unexpected liveliness, slapped him on both cheeks with his full hand to bring him back to consciousness.

110240    “Thanks, Saheb,” the gaunt Sinhalese sighed, and the pupils re-appeared in his eyes.

110241    “Alright now?”

110242    “Yes, Saheb.”