He hurled objurgations, in the Canton dialect and bad Malay, against the group of slave-girls standing a little way off, half frightened, half amused, at his violence.

From the camping fires round which the seamen of the frigate were sitting came words of encouragement, mingled with laughter and jeering.

In the midst of this noise and confusion Babalatchi met Ali, an empty dish in his hand.
"Where are the white men ?" asked Babalatchi.
"They are eating in the front verandah," answered Ali.

"Do not stop me, Tuan.

I am giving the white men their food and am busy." "Where's Mem Almayer ?" "Inside in the passage.