Baboe Dalima; or, The Opium Fiend

"Baboe Dalima; or, The Opium Fiend" by M. T. H. Perelaer is a late 19th-century novel that plunges into a world of adventure and danger on Java's northern coast. Opening with a fierce storm, the story introduces Ardjan and Dalima, siblings who become entangled in the dark web of opium smuggling, led by the ruthless Lim Ho. Following Ardjan’s fall overboard during the storm, he and Dalima are rescued but immediately confronted by the treachery of Lim Ho's men, who aim to capture them. The narrative quickly establishes a high-stakes conflict, portraying Ardjan's fight against captivity and Dalima's struggle against her captors' malice, setting a thrilling stage for a tale of survival and resistance against criminal forces.