Babes Dalima ; or, the Opines Fiend. By T. H.
Perelaer. Trans- lated from the Dutch by the Rev. E. J. Venning. (Vizetelly and Co.)—The scene of this somewhat bloodcurdling tale is laid in Java, and the characters are Chinese, Dutch, and Javanese. It is a terrible story of opium and the curse which it brings,
— the curse, which controlled everything and everybody; the Dutch, to whom it meant revenue ; and the Javanese, to whom it meant as certainly degradation and ruin. It is, indeed, a story only too probable, and the powerful realism with which Mr. Perelaer invests the horrible corruption of the Van Gulpendom, his wife—all, in fact, who derive benefit from the "Opium Fiend"
— is fascinating in its truth to life. Baboe Dalima is a long story, but it never drags ; the naturalness of the characters and of the dialogue is assisted by the local colouring and the background, which is peopled so vividly with sketches of native life. It is "undoubtedly a powerful picture of the misery caused by the "Opium Fiend." It is touched rather too strongly, perhaps, by the influence of the French realistic school.
Previous page
