March 21, 2025 • 26 mins
Almayer’s Folly is a dramatic tale of ambition, greed, and personal downfall. European trader Kaspar Almayer, obsessed with finding gold in Malaysia, watches his dreams crumble as his family and fortune slip away. A haunting study of colonialism and failure.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter three. The deliberations conducted in London have a far
reaching importance, and so the decision issued from the fog
veiled offices of the Borneo Company darkened for Almyer the
brilliant sunshine of their tropics, and added another drop of
bitterness to the cup of his disenchantments. The claim to
(00:22):
that part of the East Coast was abandoned, leaving the
Pantai River under the nominal power of Holland. In Sambir,
there was joy and excitement. The slaves were hurried out
of sight into the forest and jungle, and the flags
were run up to tall poles in the Raja's compound
in expectation of a visit from dutch Man of war boats.
(00:43):
The frigate remained anchored outside the mouth of the river,
and the boats came up in tow of the steam launch,
threading their way cautiously amongst the crowd of canoes filled
with gaily dressed meles. The officer in command listened gravely
to the loyal speeches of Lakamba. He returned the salaams
of Abdullah and assured those gentlemen in choice Madelay of
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the great Rajahs down in Batavia, friendship and good will
towards the ruler and inhabitants of this model state of Sambir.
Al Meyer from his verandah watched across the river the
festive proceedings, heard the report of brass guns saluting the
new flag presented to Lakamba, and the deep murmur of
the crowded spectators surging round the stockade. The smoke of
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the firing rose in white clouds on the green background
of the forest, and he could not help comparing his
own fleeting hopes to the rapidly disappearing vapor. He was
by no means patriotically elated by the event, yet he
had to force himself into a gracious behavior. When the
official reception being over, the naval officers of the Commission
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crossed the river to pay a visit to the solitary
white men of whom they had heard no doubt, wishing
also to catch a glimpse of his daughter. In that
they were disappointed Nina refusing to show herself, but they
seemed easily consoled by the gininshar roots set before them
by the hospitable almyre, and sprawling comfortably on the lame
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arm chairs under the shade of the Verandah, while the
blazing sunshine outside seemed to set the great river simmering
in the heat. They filled the little bungalow with the
unusual sounds of European languages, with noise and laughter produced
by naval witticisms. At the expense of the fat Lakamba,
whom they had been complimenting so much. That very morning,
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the younger men, in an access of good fellowship, made
their host talk an all Meyer, excited by the sight
of European faces, why the sound of European voices opened
his heart before the sympathizing strangers. Unaware of the amusement
the recital of as many misfortunes caused to those future admirals,
they drank his health, wished him many big diamonds and
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a mountain of gold, expressed even an envy of the
high destinies awaiting him. Yet, encouraged by so much friendliness,
the gray headed and foolish dreamer invited his guests to
visit his new house. They went there through the long
grass in a straggling possession, while their boats were got
ready for the return down the river. In the cool
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of the evening, and in the great empty rooms, where
the tepet wind, entering through the sashless windows, whirled gently
the dried leaves and the dust of many days of neglect.
All Meyre, in his white jacket and flowered song, surrounded
by a circle of glittering uniforms, stamped his foot to
show the solidity of the neatly fitting floors, and expatiated
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upon the beauties and convenience of the building. They listened
and ascended, amazed by the wonderful simplicity and the foolish
hopefulness of the man, till Allmyer, carried away by his excitement,
disclosed his regret at the non arrival of the English,
who knew how to develop a rich country. As he
expressed it, there was a general laugh amongst the Dutch
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officers at that unsophisticated statement, and a move was made
towards the boats. But when Almayer, stepping cautiously on the
rotten boards of the lingard, Jetty tried to approach the
Chief at the Commission with some timid hints and net
the protection required by the Dutch subject against the wily Arabs,
that salt water diplomat told him significantly that the Arabs
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were better subjects than Hollanders who dealt illegally in gunpowder
with the Meles. The innocent Allmyer recognized there at once
the oily tongue of Abdullah and the solemn persuasiveness of
La Kamba. But Airy had time to frame an indignant protest.
The steam launch and the string of boats moved rapidly
down the river, leaving him on the jetty, standing open
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mouthed in his surprise and anger. There are thirty miles
of river from zam Beard to the gem like islands
of the estuary, where the frigate was awaiting the return
of the boats. The moon rose long before the boats
had traversed half that distance. Black Forest, sleeping peacefully under
her cold rays, woke up that night to the ringing
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laughter in the small floydilla, provoked by some reminiscence of
all Meyer's lamentable narrative. Saltwater just at the poor man's expense,
were passed from boat to boat. The non appearance of
his daughter was commented upon with severe displeasure, and the
half finished house built for the reception of Englishmen received
on that joyous night the name of all Meyer's folly
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by the unanimous vote of a lighthearted seamen. For many
weeks after this visit, life and sam Vir resumed its
even and uneventful flow. Each day's sun, shooting its morning
rays above the tree tops, lit up the usual scene
of daily activity. Nina, walking on the path that formed
the only street in the settlement, saw the accustomed sight
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of men lolling upon the shady side of the houses
on the high platforms, of women busily engaged in husking,
the daily rice of naked brown children racing along the
shady and narrow paths leading to the clearings. Jim Ang,
strolling before his house, greeted her with a friendly nod
before climbing up indoors to seek his beloved opium pipe.
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The elder children clustered round her, daring from long acquaintance,
pulling the skirts of her white robe with their dark
fingers and showing their brilliant teeth in expectation of a
shower of glass beads. She greeted them with a quiet smile,
but always had a few friendly words for a Siamese girl,
a slave owned by Blangi, whose numerous wives, was said
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to be of a violent temper, well found at rumor
said also that the domestic squabbles of that industrious cultivator
ended generally in a combined assault of all his wives
upon the Siamese slave. The girl herself never complained, perhaps
from dictates of prudence, but more likely through the strange
resigned apathy of half savage womankind. From early morning she
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was to be seen on the pass amongst the houses
by the river side, or on the jetties the tray
of haystry. It was her mission to sell, skillfully balanced
on her head. During the great heat of the day,
she usually sought refuge in Almeyer's kampong, often finding shelter
in a shady corner of the verandah, where she squatted
with her tray before her. When invited by Nina from
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Menpo two, she always had a smile, but the presence
of missus Almyer, the very sound of her shrill voice,
was the signal for a hurried departure. To this girl,
Nina often spoke. The other inhabitants of sam Beers seldom
or never heard the sound of her voice. They got
used to the silent figure moving in their midst, calm
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and white robed, a being from another world, and incomprehensible
to them. Yet Nina's life, for all her outward composure,
for all the seeming detachment from the things that people
surrounding her, was far from quiet. In consequence of missus
Almyer being much too active for the happiness and even
safety of the household, she had resumed some intercourse with Lakamba.
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Not personally, it as true, or the dignity of that
potentate kept him inside his stockade, but through the agency
of that potentate's prime minister, harbourmaster, financial adviser, and general
fact totum, that gentleman of Sulu origin was certainly endowed
with statesmanlike qualities, although he was totally devoid of personal charms.
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In truth, he was perfectly repulsive. Possessing only one eye
on a pock marked face, with nose and lips horribly
disfigured by the smallpox. This unengaging individual often strode into
Allmyer's garden in unofficial costume composed of a piece of
pink calico round his waist. There at the back of
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the house, squatting on his heels on scattered embers, in
close proximity to the great iron boiler where the family.
Daily rice was being cooked by the women under Missus
Allmyer's superintendence. Did that astute negotiator carry on law on
conversations in Sulu language with all Meyer's wife. What the
subject of their discourses was might have been guessed from
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the subsequent domestic scenes by Allmyer's Heartstone of late Almyer
had taken to excursions up the river in a small
canoe with two paddlers and the faithful Ali for a steersman.
He would disappear for a few days at a time.
All his movements were no doubt closely watched by La
Kamba and Abdullah, for the man, once in the confidence
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of rajah Laut, was supposed to be in possession of
valuable secrets. The coast population of Borneo believes implicitly in
diamonds of fabulous value, in gold mines of enormous richness
in the interior, and all those imaginings are heightened by
the difficulty of penetrating foreign land, especially on the northeast coast,
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where the Melees and the river tribes of Dayaks or
headhunters are eternally quarreling. It is true enough that some
gold reaches the coast in the hands of the those
Dayaks when during short periods of truce in the desultory warfare,
they visit the coast settlements of Meles, And so the
wildest exaggerations are built up and added to on the
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slight basis of that fact. All Meyer, in his quality
of white men, as Lingard before him, had somewhat better
relations with the up river tribes. Yet even his excursions
were not without danger, and his returns were eagerly looked
for by the impatient Lakamba. But every time the Rajah
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was disappointed, vain were the conferences by the rice pot
of his factotum Babolachi with the white man's wife. The
white man himself was impenetrable, impenetrable to persuasion, coaxing, abuse,
to soft words and shrill revilings, to desperate beseechings or
murderous threats. For missus Almeyer, in her extreme desire to
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persuade her husband into an alliance with Lakamba, played upon
the whole gamut of the passion. With her soiled robe
wound tightly under the armpits across her lean bosom, her
scamp grayish hair tumbled in disorder, over her, projecting cheekbones.
In supply and attitude, she depicted with shrill volubility, the
advantages of close union with the man, so good and
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so fair dealing. Why don't you go to the Rajah,
she screamed, Why do you go back to those diaks
in the great forests. They should be killed. You cannot
kill them, you cannot, But our Raja's men are braid.
You tell the Rajah where the old white man's treasure is.
Our Rajah is good. He is our very grandfather, the
tu Bizar. He will kill those wretched Diaks, and you
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shall have half the treasure, Oh Caspar, Tell where the
treasure is. Tell me, tell me out of the old
man's sarat, where you read so often at night on
those occasions, Almyer sat with rounded shoulders, bending to the
blast of this domestic tempest, accentuating only each pause in
the torrent of his wife's eloquence by an angry growl.
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There is no treasure, Go away, woman. Exasperated by the
sight of his patiently bent back, she would at last
walk round so as to face him across the table,
and clasping her robe with one hand, she stretched the
other lean arm and claw like hand to emphasize, in
a passion of anger and contempt, the rapid rush of
scathing remarks and bitter cursings heaped on the head of
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the man unworthy to associate with brave meleey chiefs. It
ended generally by almre rising slowly, his long pipe in hand,
his face set into a look of inward pain, and
walking away in silence. He descended the steps and plunged
into the long grasp on his way to the solitude
of his new house, dragging his feet in a state
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of physical collapse from disgust and fear. Before that fury,
she followed to the head of the steps and sent
the shafts of indiscriminate abuse after the retreating form. And
each of those scenes was concluded by a piercing shriek
reaching him far. You know, Casper, I am your wife,
your own Christian wife, after your own bland of law.
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For she knew that this was the bitterest thing of all,
the greatest regret of that man's life. All these scenes
Nina witnessed unmoved. She might have been deaf, dumb, without
any feeling, as far as any expression of opinion, when
yet oft when her father had sought the refuge of
the great dusty rooms of Almayer's Folly, and her mother,
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exhausted by rhetorical efforts, squatted wearily on her heels with
her back against the leg of the table. Nina would
approach her curiously, guarding her skirts from beetlejuice besprinkling the floor,
and gazed down upon her as one might look into
the quiescent center of a volcano after a destructive eruption.
Missus Almyer's thoughts after these scenes were usually turned into
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a channel of childhood reminiscences, and she gave them utterance
in a kind of monotonous recitateid slightly disconnected, but generally
describing the glories of the Sultan of Sulu, his great splendor,
his power, his great prowess, the fear which benumbed the
hearts of white men at the sight of his swift,
piratical prows And these muttered statements of her grandfather's might
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were mixed up with bits of later recollections with a
great fight with the White Devil's brig and the convent
life in Samurang occupied the principal place. At that point.
She usually dropped the thread of her narrative, and pulling
out the little brass cross always suspended round her neck.
She contemplated it with superstitious awe, that superstitious feeling connected
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with some vague talismanic properties of the little bit of metal,
and the still more hazy but terrible notion of some
bad jinns and horrible torments invented, as she thought for her,
as special punishment by the good Mother Superior in case
of the loss of the above charm, Were Missus Allmyer's
only theological luggage for the stormy wrote of life. Missus
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Almod had at least something tangible to cling to. But Nina,
brought up under the Protestant wing of the proper Missus
vinc had not even a little piece of brass to
remind her of past teaching and listening to the recital
of those savage glories, those barbarous fights and savage feasting.
Though the story of deeds valorous, how by somewhat blood
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thirsty were men of her mother's race shone far above
the orang Blanda. She felt herself irresistibly fascinated, and saw
with vague surprise the narrow mantle of civilized morality in
which good meaning people had wrapped up her young soul
fall away and leave her shivering and helpless, as if
on the edge of some deep and unknown abyss. Strangest
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of all, this abyss did not frighten her when she
was under the influence of the witch like being she
called her mother. She seemed to have forgotten in civilized
surroundings her life before the time when Lingard had, so
to speak, kidnapped her from brow. Since then she had
had Christian teaching, social education, and a good glimpse of
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civilized life. Unfortunately, her teachers did not understand her nature,
and the education ended in a scene of humiliation, in
an outburst of contempt from white people for her mixed blood.
She had tasted the whole bitterness of it, and remembered
distinctly that the virtuous missus Vinc's indignation was not so
much directed against the young man from the bank as
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against the innocent cause of that young man's infatuation. And
there was also no doubt in her mind that the
principal cause of missus Vinc's indignation was the thought that
such a thing should happen in a whitenst where her
snow white doves. The to missus Zinc had just returned
from Europe to find shelter under the maternal wing, and
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there await the coming of irreproachable men of their destiny.
Not even the thought of the money so painfully scraped
together by Almeyer and so punctually set for Nina's expenses
could dissuade missus Zinc from her virtuous resolve. Nina was
sent away, and in truth the girl herself wanted to go,
although a little frightened by the impending change. And now
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she lived on the river for three years with a
savage mother and a father walking about amongst pitfalls with
his head in the clouds, Weak, irresolute, and unhappy. She
had lived the life devoid of all the decencies of civilization,
in miserable domestic conditions. She had breathed in the atmosphere
of sordid plottings for gain of the no less disgusting
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intrigues and crimes for lust or money, and those things,
together with the domestic quarrels, were the only events of
her three years existence. She did not die from despair
and discuss the first month, as she had expected and
almost hoped for on the contrary, at the end of
half a year, it had seemed to her that she
had known no other life. Her young mind, having been
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unskillfully permitted to glance at best things and then thrown
back again into the hopeless quagmire of barbarism, full of
strong and uncontrolled passions, had lost the power to discriminate.
It seemed to Nina that there was no change and
no difference, whether they traded in brick go downs or
on the muddy river bank, whether they reached after much
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or little, whether they made love under the shadows of
the great trees or in the shadow of the cathedral
on the Singapore Promenade, whether they plotted for their own
ends under the protection of laws and according to the
rules of Christian conduct, or whether they sought the gratification
of their desires with the savage cunning and the unrestrained
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fierceness of nature's, as innocent of culture as their own
immense and gloomy forests. Nina saw only the same manifestations
of love and hate, an assorted greed, chasing the uncertain
dollar in all its multifarious and vanishing shapes. To her
resolute nature, However, after all these years, the savage and
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uncompromising sincerity of purpose shown by her Melee Kinsman, seemed
at last preferable to the sleek hypocrisy, to the polite disguises,
to the virtuous pretenses of such white people as she
had had the misfortune to come in contact with. After all,
it was her life, it was going to be her life,
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and so thinking she fell more and more under the
influence of her mother. Seeking in her ignorance a better
side to that life, she listened with avidity to the
old woman's tale of the departed glories of the Rasas,
from whose race she had sprung, and she became gradually
more indifferent, more contemptuous of the white side of her descent,
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represented by a feeble and traditionless father. All Meyer's difficulties
were by no means diminished by the girl's presence in
zambr The stir caused by her arrival had died out,
it is true, and the Kamba had not renewed his visits.
But about a year after the departure of the Man
of war boats, the nephew of Abdullah Sayed Rashid returned
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from his pilgrimage to Mecca rejoicing in a green jacket
and the proud title of Hadji. There was a great
letting off of rockets on board the steamer which brought
him in, and a great beating of drums all night
in Abdullah's compound, while the feast of welcome was prolonged
far into the small hours of the morning. Rashid was
the favorite nephew and heir of Abdullah, and that loving uncle.
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Meeting Almyer one day by the riverside, stopped politely to
exchange civilities and to ask solemnly for an interview. Allmyer
suspected some attempt at a swindle, or at any rate
something unpleasant, but of course consented with the great show
of rejoicing Accordingly. The next evening, after sunset, Abdullah came,
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accompanied by several other gray beards, and by his nephew,
That young man of a very rakish and dissipated appearance,
affected the greatest indifference as to the whole of the proceedings.
When the torch bearers had grouped themselves below the steps,
and the visitors had seated themselves in various lame chairs,
Rashid stood apart in the shadow, examining his aristocratically small
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hands with great attention. Almyer, surprised by the great solemnity
of his visitors, hurched himself on the corner of the
table with a characteristic want of dignity, quickly noted by
the Arabs with grave disapproval. But Abdullah spoke now looking
straight past Almyer at the red curtain hanging in the doorway,
where a slight tremor disclosed the presence of women on
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the other side. He began by neatly complimenting Almyer upon
the long years they had dwelt together in cordial neighborhood,
and called upon Allah to give him many more years
to gladden the eyes of his friends by his welcome presence.
He made a polite allusion to the great consideration shown
him Almyer by the Dutch Commissie, and drew thence the
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flattering inference of Allmyer's great importance amongst his own he
Abdullah was also important amongst all the Arabs, and his
nephew Rashid would be heir of that social position and
of great riches. Now Rashid was a Hadji. He was
possessor of several melee women. When on Abdullah, but it
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was time he had a favorite wife, the first of
the four allowed by the prophet, And speaking with well
bred politeness, he explained further to the dumbfound at Almayer
that if he would consent to the alliance of his
offspring with that true believer and virtuous man, Rashid, she
would be the mistress of all the splendors of Rashid's
house and first wife of the first Arab in the islands.
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When he Abdullah was called to the joys of paradise
by Allah viomercial you know, Tuan, he said in conclusion,
the other women would be her slaves. And Rashid's house
is great from Bombay. He has brought great divans and
costly carpets and European furniture. There was also a great
looking glass in a frame, shining like gold. What could
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a girl want more? And while all Meyer looked upon
him in silent dismay, Abdullah spoke in a more confidential tone,
waving his attendants away, and finished his sentence by pointing
out the material advantages of such an alliance and offering
to settle upon Almyer three thousand dollars as a sign
of his sincere friendship and the price of the girl.
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Poor Almyer was nearly having a fit, burning with the
desire of taking Abdullah by the throat. He had but
to think of his helpless position in the midst of
lawless men, to comprehend the necessity of diplomatic conciliation. He
mastered his impulses and spoke politely and coldly, saying the
girl was young and as the apple of his eye
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twan Rashid, a faithful and hadji, would not want an
infidel woman in his harem. And seeing Abdullah smiled skeptically
at that last objection, he remained silent, not trusting himself
to speak more, not daring to refuse point blank, nor
yet to say anything compromising. Abdullah understood the meaning of
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that silence and rose to take leave with the great Salaam.
He wished his friend Almyer a thousand years and moved
down the steps, helped dutifully by Rashid. The torch bearers
took their torches, scattering a shower of sparks into the river,
and the Cortege moved off, leaving Almyer agitated but greatly
relieved by their departure. He dropped into a chair and
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watched the glimmer of the lights amongst the tree trunks
till they disappeared, and complete silence succeeded the tramp of
feet and the murmur of voices. He did not move
till the curtain rustled, and Nina came out on the
verandah and sat in the rocking chair where she used
to spend many hours every day. She gave a slight
rocking motion to her seat, leaning back with half closed eyes,
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her long hair shading her face from the smoky light
of the lamp on the table. All Meyer looked at
her furtively, but the face was as impassable as ever.
She turned her head slightly towards her father, and, speaking
to his great surprise in English, asked, who is that Abdoulah? Here? Yes,
said Almayer, just gone? And what did he want? Father?
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He wanted to buy you for Rashid, answered Almeyer brutally,
his anger getting the better of him and looking at
the girl as if in expectation of some outbreak of feeling.
But Nina remained apparently unmoved, easing dreamily into the black
night outside. Be careful, Nina, said Almayer. After a short silence,
and rising from his chair, when you go paddling alone
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into the creeks in your canoe. That Rashid is a
violent scoundrel, and there is no saying what he may do.
Do you hear me? She was standing, now, ready to
go in, one hand grasping the curtain in the doorway.
She turned round, throwing her heavy tresses back by a
sudden gesture. Do you think he would dare? She asked quickly,
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and then turned again to go in, adding in a
lower tone, he would not dare. Arabs are all cowards.
All Meyer looked after her, astonished, He did not seek
the repose of his hammock. He walked the floor absently,
sometimes stopping by the balustrade to think. The lamp went out,
the first streak of dawn broke over the forest. Almyer
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shivered in the damp air. I give it up, he
muttered to himself, lying down wearily. Damn those women. Well
if the girl did not look as if she wanted
to be kidnapped, and he felt a nameless fear creep
into his heart, making him shiver again. End of Chapter
three recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com.
Chapter three. The deliberations conducted in London have a far
reaching importance, and so the decision issued from the fog
veiled offices of the Borneo Company darkened for Almyer the
brilliant sunshine of their tropics, and added another drop of
bitterness to the cup of his disenchantments. The claim to
(00:22):
that part of the East Coast was abandoned, leaving the
Pantai River under the nominal power of Holland. In Sambir,
there was joy and excitement. The slaves were hurried out
of sight into the forest and jungle, and the flags
were run up to tall poles in the Raja's compound
in expectation of a visit from dutch Man of war boats.
(00:43):
The frigate remained anchored outside the mouth of the river,
and the boats came up in tow of the steam launch,
threading their way cautiously amongst the crowd of canoes filled
with gaily dressed meles. The officer in command listened gravely
to the loyal speeches of Lakamba. He returned the salaams
of Abdullah and assured those gentlemen in choice Madelay of
(01:05):
the great Rajahs down in Batavia, friendship and good will
towards the ruler and inhabitants of this model state of Sambir.
Al Meyer from his verandah watched across the river the
festive proceedings, heard the report of brass guns saluting the
new flag presented to Lakamba, and the deep murmur of
the crowded spectators surging round the stockade. The smoke of
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the firing rose in white clouds on the green background
of the forest, and he could not help comparing his
own fleeting hopes to the rapidly disappearing vapor. He was
by no means patriotically elated by the event, yet he
had to force himself into a gracious behavior. When the
official reception being over, the naval officers of the Commission
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crossed the river to pay a visit to the solitary
white men of whom they had heard no doubt, wishing
also to catch a glimpse of his daughter. In that
they were disappointed Nina refusing to show herself, but they
seemed easily consoled by the gininshar roots set before them
by the hospitable almyre, and sprawling comfortably on the lame
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arm chairs under the shade of the Verandah, while the
blazing sunshine outside seemed to set the great river simmering
in the heat. They filled the little bungalow with the
unusual sounds of European languages, with noise and laughter produced
by naval witticisms. At the expense of the fat Lakamba,
whom they had been complimenting so much. That very morning,
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the younger men, in an access of good fellowship, made
their host talk an all Meyer, excited by the sight
of European faces, why the sound of European voices opened
his heart before the sympathizing strangers. Unaware of the amusement
the recital of as many misfortunes caused to those future admirals,
they drank his health, wished him many big diamonds and
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a mountain of gold, expressed even an envy of the
high destinies awaiting him. Yet, encouraged by so much friendliness,
the gray headed and foolish dreamer invited his guests to
visit his new house. They went there through the long
grass in a straggling possession, while their boats were got
ready for the return down the river. In the cool
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of the evening, and in the great empty rooms, where
the tepet wind, entering through the sashless windows, whirled gently
the dried leaves and the dust of many days of neglect.
All Meyre, in his white jacket and flowered song, surrounded
by a circle of glittering uniforms, stamped his foot to
show the solidity of the neatly fitting floors, and expatiated
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upon the beauties and convenience of the building. They listened
and ascended, amazed by the wonderful simplicity and the foolish
hopefulness of the man, till Allmyer, carried away by his excitement,
disclosed his regret at the non arrival of the English,
who knew how to develop a rich country. As he
expressed it, there was a general laugh amongst the Dutch
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officers at that unsophisticated statement, and a move was made
towards the boats. But when Almayer, stepping cautiously on the
rotten boards of the lingard, Jetty tried to approach the
Chief at the Commission with some timid hints and net
the protection required by the Dutch subject against the wily Arabs,
that salt water diplomat told him significantly that the Arabs
(04:23):
were better subjects than Hollanders who dealt illegally in gunpowder
with the Meles. The innocent Allmyer recognized there at once
the oily tongue of Abdullah and the solemn persuasiveness of
La Kamba. But Airy had time to frame an indignant protest.
The steam launch and the string of boats moved rapidly
down the river, leaving him on the jetty, standing open
(04:45):
mouthed in his surprise and anger. There are thirty miles
of river from zam Beard to the gem like islands
of the estuary, where the frigate was awaiting the return
of the boats. The moon rose long before the boats
had traversed half that distance. Black Forest, sleeping peacefully under
her cold rays, woke up that night to the ringing
(05:05):
laughter in the small floydilla, provoked by some reminiscence of
all Meyer's lamentable narrative. Saltwater just at the poor man's expense,
were passed from boat to boat. The non appearance of
his daughter was commented upon with severe displeasure, and the
half finished house built for the reception of Englishmen received
on that joyous night the name of all Meyer's folly
(05:27):
by the unanimous vote of a lighthearted seamen. For many
weeks after this visit, life and sam Vir resumed its
even and uneventful flow. Each day's sun, shooting its morning
rays above the tree tops, lit up the usual scene
of daily activity. Nina, walking on the path that formed
the only street in the settlement, saw the accustomed sight
(05:50):
of men lolling upon the shady side of the houses
on the high platforms, of women busily engaged in husking,
the daily rice of naked brown children racing along the
shady and narrow paths leading to the clearings. Jim Ang,
strolling before his house, greeted her with a friendly nod
before climbing up indoors to seek his beloved opium pipe.
(06:13):
The elder children clustered round her, daring from long acquaintance,
pulling the skirts of her white robe with their dark
fingers and showing their brilliant teeth in expectation of a
shower of glass beads. She greeted them with a quiet smile,
but always had a few friendly words for a Siamese girl,
a slave owned by Blangi, whose numerous wives, was said
(06:34):
to be of a violent temper, well found at rumor
said also that the domestic squabbles of that industrious cultivator
ended generally in a combined assault of all his wives
upon the Siamese slave. The girl herself never complained, perhaps
from dictates of prudence, but more likely through the strange
resigned apathy of half savage womankind. From early morning she
(06:58):
was to be seen on the pass amongst the houses
by the river side, or on the jetties the tray
of haystry. It was her mission to sell, skillfully balanced
on her head. During the great heat of the day,
she usually sought refuge in Almeyer's kampong, often finding shelter
in a shady corner of the verandah, where she squatted
with her tray before her. When invited by Nina from
(07:20):
Menpo two, she always had a smile, but the presence
of missus Almyer, the very sound of her shrill voice,
was the signal for a hurried departure. To this girl,
Nina often spoke. The other inhabitants of sam Beers seldom
or never heard the sound of her voice. They got
used to the silent figure moving in their midst, calm
(07:40):
and white robed, a being from another world, and incomprehensible
to them. Yet Nina's life, for all her outward composure,
for all the seeming detachment from the things that people
surrounding her, was far from quiet. In consequence of missus
Almyer being much too active for the happiness and even
safety of the household, she had resumed some intercourse with Lakamba.
(08:03):
Not personally, it as true, or the dignity of that
potentate kept him inside his stockade, but through the agency
of that potentate's prime minister, harbourmaster, financial adviser, and general
fact totum, that gentleman of Sulu origin was certainly endowed
with statesmanlike qualities, although he was totally devoid of personal charms.
(08:26):
In truth, he was perfectly repulsive. Possessing only one eye
on a pock marked face, with nose and lips horribly
disfigured by the smallpox. This unengaging individual often strode into
Allmyer's garden in unofficial costume composed of a piece of
pink calico round his waist. There at the back of
(08:46):
the house, squatting on his heels on scattered embers, in
close proximity to the great iron boiler where the family.
Daily rice was being cooked by the women under Missus
Allmyer's superintendence. Did that astute negotiator carry on law on
conversations in Sulu language with all Meyer's wife. What the
subject of their discourses was might have been guessed from
(09:07):
the subsequent domestic scenes by Allmyer's Heartstone of late Almyer
had taken to excursions up the river in a small
canoe with two paddlers and the faithful Ali for a steersman.
He would disappear for a few days at a time.
All his movements were no doubt closely watched by La
Kamba and Abdullah, for the man, once in the confidence
(09:29):
of rajah Laut, was supposed to be in possession of
valuable secrets. The coast population of Borneo believes implicitly in
diamonds of fabulous value, in gold mines of enormous richness
in the interior, and all those imaginings are heightened by
the difficulty of penetrating foreign land, especially on the northeast coast,
(09:50):
where the Melees and the river tribes of Dayaks or
headhunters are eternally quarreling. It is true enough that some
gold reaches the coast in the hands of the those
Dayaks when during short periods of truce in the desultory warfare,
they visit the coast settlements of Meles, And so the
wildest exaggerations are built up and added to on the
(10:11):
slight basis of that fact. All Meyer, in his quality
of white men, as Lingard before him, had somewhat better
relations with the up river tribes. Yet even his excursions
were not without danger, and his returns were eagerly looked
for by the impatient Lakamba. But every time the Rajah
(10:32):
was disappointed, vain were the conferences by the rice pot
of his factotum Babolachi with the white man's wife. The
white man himself was impenetrable, impenetrable to persuasion, coaxing, abuse,
to soft words and shrill revilings, to desperate beseechings or
murderous threats. For missus Almeyer, in her extreme desire to
(10:55):
persuade her husband into an alliance with Lakamba, played upon
the whole gamut of the passion. With her soiled robe
wound tightly under the armpits across her lean bosom, her
scamp grayish hair tumbled in disorder, over her, projecting cheekbones.
In supply and attitude, she depicted with shrill volubility, the
advantages of close union with the man, so good and
(11:17):
so fair dealing. Why don't you go to the Rajah,
she screamed, Why do you go back to those diaks
in the great forests. They should be killed. You cannot
kill them, you cannot, But our Raja's men are braid.
You tell the Rajah where the old white man's treasure is.
Our Rajah is good. He is our very grandfather, the
tu Bizar. He will kill those wretched Diaks, and you
(11:39):
shall have half the treasure, Oh Caspar, Tell where the
treasure is. Tell me, tell me out of the old
man's sarat, where you read so often at night on
those occasions, Almyer sat with rounded shoulders, bending to the
blast of this domestic tempest, accentuating only each pause in
the torrent of his wife's eloquence by an angry growl.
(12:00):
There is no treasure, Go away, woman. Exasperated by the
sight of his patiently bent back, she would at last
walk round so as to face him across the table,
and clasping her robe with one hand, she stretched the
other lean arm and claw like hand to emphasize, in
a passion of anger and contempt, the rapid rush of
scathing remarks and bitter cursings heaped on the head of
(12:22):
the man unworthy to associate with brave meleey chiefs. It
ended generally by almre rising slowly, his long pipe in hand,
his face set into a look of inward pain, and
walking away in silence. He descended the steps and plunged
into the long grasp on his way to the solitude
of his new house, dragging his feet in a state
(12:44):
of physical collapse from disgust and fear. Before that fury,
she followed to the head of the steps and sent
the shafts of indiscriminate abuse after the retreating form. And
each of those scenes was concluded by a piercing shriek
reaching him far. You know, Casper, I am your wife,
your own Christian wife, after your own bland of law.
(13:06):
For she knew that this was the bitterest thing of all,
the greatest regret of that man's life. All these scenes
Nina witnessed unmoved. She might have been deaf, dumb, without
any feeling, as far as any expression of opinion, when
yet oft when her father had sought the refuge of
the great dusty rooms of Almayer's Folly, and her mother,
(13:29):
exhausted by rhetorical efforts, squatted wearily on her heels with
her back against the leg of the table. Nina would
approach her curiously, guarding her skirts from beetlejuice besprinkling the floor,
and gazed down upon her as one might look into
the quiescent center of a volcano after a destructive eruption.
Missus Almyer's thoughts after these scenes were usually turned into
(13:52):
a channel of childhood reminiscences, and she gave them utterance
in a kind of monotonous recitateid slightly disconnected, but generally
describing the glories of the Sultan of Sulu, his great splendor,
his power, his great prowess, the fear which benumbed the
hearts of white men at the sight of his swift,
piratical prows And these muttered statements of her grandfather's might
(14:15):
were mixed up with bits of later recollections with a
great fight with the White Devil's brig and the convent
life in Samurang occupied the principal place. At that point.
She usually dropped the thread of her narrative, and pulling
out the little brass cross always suspended round her neck.
She contemplated it with superstitious awe, that superstitious feeling connected
(14:38):
with some vague talismanic properties of the little bit of metal,
and the still more hazy but terrible notion of some
bad jinns and horrible torments invented, as she thought for her,
as special punishment by the good Mother Superior in case
of the loss of the above charm, Were Missus Allmyer's
only theological luggage for the stormy wrote of life. Missus
(14:59):
Almod had at least something tangible to cling to. But Nina,
brought up under the Protestant wing of the proper Missus
vinc had not even a little piece of brass to
remind her of past teaching and listening to the recital
of those savage glories, those barbarous fights and savage feasting.
Though the story of deeds valorous, how by somewhat blood
(15:21):
thirsty were men of her mother's race shone far above
the orang Blanda. She felt herself irresistibly fascinated, and saw
with vague surprise the narrow mantle of civilized morality in
which good meaning people had wrapped up her young soul
fall away and leave her shivering and helpless, as if
on the edge of some deep and unknown abyss. Strangest
(15:43):
of all, this abyss did not frighten her when she
was under the influence of the witch like being she
called her mother. She seemed to have forgotten in civilized
surroundings her life before the time when Lingard had, so
to speak, kidnapped her from brow. Since then she had
had Christian teaching, social education, and a good glimpse of
(16:04):
civilized life. Unfortunately, her teachers did not understand her nature,
and the education ended in a scene of humiliation, in
an outburst of contempt from white people for her mixed blood.
She had tasted the whole bitterness of it, and remembered
distinctly that the virtuous missus Vinc's indignation was not so
much directed against the young man from the bank as
(16:28):
against the innocent cause of that young man's infatuation. And
there was also no doubt in her mind that the
principal cause of missus Vinc's indignation was the thought that
such a thing should happen in a whitenst where her
snow white doves. The to missus Zinc had just returned
from Europe to find shelter under the maternal wing, and
(16:48):
there await the coming of irreproachable men of their destiny.
Not even the thought of the money so painfully scraped
together by Almeyer and so punctually set for Nina's expenses
could dissuade missus Zinc from her virtuous resolve. Nina was
sent away, and in truth the girl herself wanted to go,
although a little frightened by the impending change. And now
(17:12):
she lived on the river for three years with a
savage mother and a father walking about amongst pitfalls with
his head in the clouds, Weak, irresolute, and unhappy. She
had lived the life devoid of all the decencies of civilization,
in miserable domestic conditions. She had breathed in the atmosphere
of sordid plottings for gain of the no less disgusting
(17:34):
intrigues and crimes for lust or money, and those things,
together with the domestic quarrels, were the only events of
her three years existence. She did not die from despair
and discuss the first month, as she had expected and
almost hoped for on the contrary, at the end of
half a year, it had seemed to her that she
had known no other life. Her young mind, having been
(17:58):
unskillfully permitted to glance at best things and then thrown
back again into the hopeless quagmire of barbarism, full of
strong and uncontrolled passions, had lost the power to discriminate.
It seemed to Nina that there was no change and
no difference, whether they traded in brick go downs or
on the muddy river bank, whether they reached after much
(18:20):
or little, whether they made love under the shadows of
the great trees or in the shadow of the cathedral
on the Singapore Promenade, whether they plotted for their own
ends under the protection of laws and according to the
rules of Christian conduct, or whether they sought the gratification
of their desires with the savage cunning and the unrestrained
(18:40):
fierceness of nature's, as innocent of culture as their own
immense and gloomy forests. Nina saw only the same manifestations
of love and hate, an assorted greed, chasing the uncertain
dollar in all its multifarious and vanishing shapes. To her
resolute nature, However, after all these years, the savage and
(19:01):
uncompromising sincerity of purpose shown by her Melee Kinsman, seemed
at last preferable to the sleek hypocrisy, to the polite disguises,
to the virtuous pretenses of such white people as she
had had the misfortune to come in contact with. After all,
it was her life, it was going to be her life,
(19:21):
and so thinking she fell more and more under the
influence of her mother. Seeking in her ignorance a better
side to that life, she listened with avidity to the
old woman's tale of the departed glories of the Rasas,
from whose race she had sprung, and she became gradually
more indifferent, more contemptuous of the white side of her descent,
(19:42):
represented by a feeble and traditionless father. All Meyer's difficulties
were by no means diminished by the girl's presence in
zambr The stir caused by her arrival had died out,
it is true, and the Kamba had not renewed his visits.
But about a year after the departure of the Man
of war boats, the nephew of Abdullah Sayed Rashid returned
(20:04):
from his pilgrimage to Mecca rejoicing in a green jacket
and the proud title of Hadji. There was a great
letting off of rockets on board the steamer which brought
him in, and a great beating of drums all night
in Abdullah's compound, while the feast of welcome was prolonged
far into the small hours of the morning. Rashid was
the favorite nephew and heir of Abdullah, and that loving uncle.
(20:28):
Meeting Almyer one day by the riverside, stopped politely to
exchange civilities and to ask solemnly for an interview. Allmyer
suspected some attempt at a swindle, or at any rate
something unpleasant, but of course consented with the great show
of rejoicing Accordingly. The next evening, after sunset, Abdullah came,
(20:49):
accompanied by several other gray beards, and by his nephew,
That young man of a very rakish and dissipated appearance,
affected the greatest indifference as to the whole of the proceedings.
When the torch bearers had grouped themselves below the steps,
and the visitors had seated themselves in various lame chairs,
Rashid stood apart in the shadow, examining his aristocratically small
(21:12):
hands with great attention. Almyer, surprised by the great solemnity
of his visitors, hurched himself on the corner of the
table with a characteristic want of dignity, quickly noted by
the Arabs with grave disapproval. But Abdullah spoke now looking
straight past Almyer at the red curtain hanging in the doorway,
where a slight tremor disclosed the presence of women on
(21:35):
the other side. He began by neatly complimenting Almyer upon
the long years they had dwelt together in cordial neighborhood,
and called upon Allah to give him many more years
to gladden the eyes of his friends by his welcome presence.
He made a polite allusion to the great consideration shown
him Almyer by the Dutch Commissie, and drew thence the
(21:56):
flattering inference of Allmyer's great importance amongst his own he
Abdullah was also important amongst all the Arabs, and his
nephew Rashid would be heir of that social position and
of great riches. Now Rashid was a Hadji. He was
possessor of several melee women. When on Abdullah, but it
(22:16):
was time he had a favorite wife, the first of
the four allowed by the prophet, And speaking with well
bred politeness, he explained further to the dumbfound at Almayer
that if he would consent to the alliance of his
offspring with that true believer and virtuous man, Rashid, she
would be the mistress of all the splendors of Rashid's
house and first wife of the first Arab in the islands.
(22:40):
When he Abdullah was called to the joys of paradise
by Allah viomercial you know, Tuan, he said in conclusion,
the other women would be her slaves. And Rashid's house
is great from Bombay. He has brought great divans and
costly carpets and European furniture. There was also a great
looking glass in a frame, shining like gold. What could
(23:03):
a girl want more? And while all Meyer looked upon
him in silent dismay, Abdullah spoke in a more confidential tone,
waving his attendants away, and finished his sentence by pointing
out the material advantages of such an alliance and offering
to settle upon Almyer three thousand dollars as a sign
of his sincere friendship and the price of the girl.
(23:26):
Poor Almyer was nearly having a fit, burning with the
desire of taking Abdullah by the throat. He had but
to think of his helpless position in the midst of
lawless men, to comprehend the necessity of diplomatic conciliation. He
mastered his impulses and spoke politely and coldly, saying the
girl was young and as the apple of his eye
(23:48):
twan Rashid, a faithful and hadji, would not want an
infidel woman in his harem. And seeing Abdullah smiled skeptically
at that last objection, he remained silent, not trusting himself
to speak more, not daring to refuse point blank, nor
yet to say anything compromising. Abdullah understood the meaning of
(24:08):
that silence and rose to take leave with the great Salaam.
He wished his friend Almyer a thousand years and moved
down the steps, helped dutifully by Rashid. The torch bearers
took their torches, scattering a shower of sparks into the river,
and the Cortege moved off, leaving Almyer agitated but greatly
relieved by their departure. He dropped into a chair and
(24:32):
watched the glimmer of the lights amongst the tree trunks
till they disappeared, and complete silence succeeded the tramp of
feet and the murmur of voices. He did not move
till the curtain rustled, and Nina came out on the
verandah and sat in the rocking chair where she used
to spend many hours every day. She gave a slight
rocking motion to her seat, leaning back with half closed eyes,
(24:54):
her long hair shading her face from the smoky light
of the lamp on the table. All Meyer looked at
her furtively, but the face was as impassable as ever.
She turned her head slightly towards her father, and, speaking
to his great surprise in English, asked, who is that Abdoulah? Here? Yes,
said Almayer, just gone? And what did he want? Father?
(25:16):
He wanted to buy you for Rashid, answered Almeyer brutally,
his anger getting the better of him and looking at
the girl as if in expectation of some outbreak of feeling.
But Nina remained apparently unmoved, easing dreamily into the black
night outside. Be careful, Nina, said Almayer. After a short silence,
and rising from his chair, when you go paddling alone
(25:38):
into the creeks in your canoe. That Rashid is a
violent scoundrel, and there is no saying what he may do.
Do you hear me? She was standing, now, ready to
go in, one hand grasping the curtain in the doorway.
She turned round, throwing her heavy tresses back by a
sudden gesture. Do you think he would dare? She asked quickly,
(25:59):
and then turned again to go in, adding in a
lower tone, he would not dare. Arabs are all cowards.
All Meyer looked after her, astonished, He did not seek
the repose of his hammock. He walked the floor absently,
sometimes stopping by the balustrade to think. The lamp went out,
the first streak of dawn broke over the forest. Almyer
(26:21):
shivered in the damp air. I give it up, he
muttered to himself, lying down wearily. Damn those women. Well
if the girl did not look as if she wanted
to be kidnapped, and he felt a nameless fear creep
into his heart, making him shiver again. End of Chapter
three recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com.
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