
The story opens with a vivid portrait of Borneo—a massive island wrapped in tangled archipelagic strands, its heart a vast, uncharted wilderness of towering rain‑forests, hidden valleys and mineral‑rich depths. For decades the interior has been a magnet for daring scientists, treasure hunters and restless travelers, each drawn by the promise of undiscovered flora, fauna and glittering veins of gold and diamonds. The narrative captures the clash between the island’s unforgiving nature—its fierce animals and wary tribes—and the relentless curiosity that pushes outsiders deeper into its green maze.
Against this backdrop two Dutch companions, Jan Verveer and Kees Smit, reunite in the humid evening of Pontianak after years of wandering. Their shared childhood yearning for adventure, a habit of drifting from school and village life, now finds a new purpose: to venture beyond the coastal settlements and confront the mysteries that have long shielded Borneo’s interior. Their bond and restless spirits set the stage for a journey that will test both friendship and the limits of human endurance.
Language
nl
Duration
~4 hours (234K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg.
Release date
2010-09-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
Best known for a vivid Dutch adventure novel set in Borneo, this elusive writer left behind a book that blends jungle peril, colonial-era travel lore, and a strong sense of storytelling. Little is firmly documented about the person behind the name, which only adds to the book’s old-world mystery.
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by Mayne Reid