Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE THRALDOM OF SINGAN tracted a chill. And strangely enough, the one seemed to be not altogether dis- connected with the other. The very fact that he knew himself to be feverish seemed in some way to account for the exotic scenery, the profuse extravagance and variety of the vegetation. Here was something that he had never experienced in his life before, something altogether different from the American forests or the Australian bush. The prodigality of Nature almost frightened him. Looking upward into the density of the undergrowth almost from the level of the water, he thought the jungle more amazing, even more savage looking and impenetrable, than when he had seen it from the deck of the Chauve-Souris. There was something not real about it all, something in keeping with his fevered blood and quickening pulse. The two lascars now looked neither to the right nor left. With short, quick strokes they plied their oars in unison, the sweat dripping from beneath their faded blue turbans, while they muttered, rather than sang, a haunting song, so monotonous in its melody and so repetitious in its words that to Eade it was like the persistent beating of a tomtom. Beyond a sharp, almost right-angle bend, the river broadened out to more than three times its former width; and there, upon the left bank, was Nolak—or at least enough evidence to prove to Eade that he had reached his destination. Three bamboo jetties projected into the water, between which were clustered- some score of native craft, river proas and’ canoes. As the boat drew nearer, two or three attap thatched bungalows came into view, standing upon high ground half cleared of trees, about a quarter of a mile from the river bank. One of them stood out upon the skyline against the red of dawn; with its floor raised about six feet above the ground, supported upon strong poles, it looked like some quaint, gigantic, prehistoric insect standing upright upon stiff, jointless legs. To the left of this was an open clearing 156 across which ran a broad, well made road of red gravel that ascended another hill- ock, more or less devoid of vegetation save for a few scattered palm trees, be= neath which were several barrack-like buildings constructed of wood and also thatched with palm leaves, all exactly similar in their dimensions, and_ so arranged that they formed two lateral streets. Upon the same hillside were scores of chickens and goats, while here and there among the huts native women and chil- dren were to be seen, the former gossiping in groups. These were women of all ages, dressed in flowing, dirty robes that de- pended from the left shoulder. The hair of many hung down to below their waists, and their skin was black as jet. On the far side of the clearing, imme- diately facing the jetties, was a long low building that was evidently a factory and drying shed; and not far from this were one or two smaller and better built houses that had the unmistakable ap- pearance of offices. Beyond the factory, between the two hillocks, one could ob- tain a glimpse of the gently rising ground that marked a plantation of young rubber trees, where a gang of coolies was to be seen at work. side the central jetty, and then, shipping their oars, produced dirty looking bundles that contained a mixture of rice and fish, which they proceeded to eat by the primitive method of scooping it into their mouths with their fingers. They had fulfilled their part of the trans- action. They were no longer concerned with John Eade. Having infinite respect for the capacities of the white man, whose ways were not their ways, who was in all things incomprehensible, they were not even curious. Eade climbed out of the boat, the rickety jetty creaking and swaying be- neath his weight. He had not the least idea where to go, but had little doubt that sooner or later he would come across some one who could tell him where he tee LASCARS ran the boat along- comicloooks.com