Now when a pearler engaged a crew of native divers there in those days, he had to deposit beforehand with the Dutch Government a certain sum for each man entering his service, this money being a guarantee that the man would get his wages.

Well, I placed all the money that I had with me at Captain Jensen's disposal, provided he gave me a share in the venture we were about to undertake.

"We will not," he said to me in Singapore, "draw up an agreement here, but will do so at Batavia," and forthwith we set sail for that place.

Before leaving Singapore, however, Jensen bought some nautical instruments he could not get at Batavia--including compasses, quadrant, chronometer, &c.

Strange to say, he did not tell me that his ship was named the _Veielland_ until we had arrived at Batavia.