Content Warning: The source material includes language that is antisemitic, including parodic criticisms of white nationalism and Nazism. In its parody of other forms of nationalist prejudice, the text includes negative stereotypes of Cuban and Batak people. The source material also includes discussions of American slavery and violence against Black people—including lynching.

The novel begins with a description of the island called Tanah Masa. Captain van Toch dislikes the place, which includes people who are indigenous to Indonesia and a commercial agent of Cuban and Portuguese descent. He complains about being sent to find pearls at the island, since he never found them there before. After discussing his pearl divers, he asks the agent if there is anywhere the locals do not fish.

The agent says no one goes to Devil Bay because there are devilish creatures there. Van Toch doesn’t believe in devils and insists they must be some species of fish. The agent describes the creatures as having hands and bottom eyelids. They argue about going to the bay, and van Toch tells the agent to find the mayor.

Van Toch tells the mayor he needs people to go looking for pearls with him.