Summary:
"Borneo van Zuid naar Noord: Ethnografische Roman" by M. T. H. Perelaer is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative likely explores themes of colonialism and the cultural dynamics between the Dutch settlers and the indigenous populations of Borneo, focusing on the lives of soldiers and locals during a tumultuous historical period. The opening of the book sets up a military scenario involving the desertion of four soldiers, including two Swiss and a Belgian, as they flee from their duties in the Dutch East Indies. A lieutenant is alerted to their absence and assumes they may have gone AWOL, leading to a sense of urgency in the camp. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to various characters, including a Chinese merchant and a local indigenous leader, through military reports and exchanges, suggesting the complexities of their relationships within the colonial context. The writing hints at underlying tensions, both personal and political, as the characters navigate issues of loyalty, duty, and survival amidst the backdrop of rebellion. (This is an automatically generated summary.)