Summary

Serang Ali is not happy that he has to put up with Jodu aboard the Ibis, so he forces Jodu to do all the worst tasks like cleaning the toilets and the hammocks while the ship is docked waiting for repairs. Serang Ali holds himself apart from the other lascars. He sleeps in different quarters and is an unforgiving disciplinarian. No one knows where he comes from, but he’s fluent in Chinese. Ghosh describes the atmosphere on board the Ibis and among the crew in more detail in this chapter. They wait for Serang Ali and Zachary to leave and then throw parties with marijuana and alcohol. One of the male crew members assumes a female identity and dances for the others. Jodu learns that Serang Ali dislikes him because of his connection to Paulette. Serang Ali doesn’t want Zachary to marry...