The chief, the woman, and another one who became great.
There was no hint of incipient greatness in Babalatchi's unostentatious arrival in Sambir.

He came with Omar and Aissa in a small prau loaded with green cocoanuts, and claimed the ownership of both vessel and cargo.

How it came to pass that Babalatchi, fleeing for his life in a small canoe, managed to end his hazardous journey in a vessel full of a valuable commodity, is one of those secrets of the sea that baffle the most searching inquiry.

In truth nobody inquired much.

There were rumours of a missing trading prau belonging to Menado, but they were vague and remained mysterious.