Further away, where the island ended in a low cliff, rose a dark mass of buildings towering above the Malay structures.
Founded solidly on a firm ground with plenty of space, starred by many lights burning strong and white, with a suggestion of paraffin and lamp- glasses, stood the house and the godowns of Abdulla bin Selim, the great trader of Sambir.

To Almayer the sight was very distasteful, and he shook his fist towards the buildings that in their evident prosperity looked to him cold and insolent, and contemptuous of his own fallen fortunes.
He mounted the steps of his house slowly.
In the middle of the verandah there was a round table.

On it a paraffin lamp without a globe shed a hard glare on the three inner sides.

The fourth side was open, and faced the river.

Between the rough supports of the high-pitched roof hung torn rattan screens.