De Scheepsjongens van Bontekoe

by Johan Fabricius

"De Scheepsjongens van Bontekoe" by Johan Fabricius is a youth novel written in 1924. Inspired by a historical voyage during the Dutch Golden Age, it follows cabin boys Hajo, Rolf, and their friend Padde aboard the East India Company ship Nieuw Hoorn. When an accidental fire causes a catastrophic explosion, seventy survivors face a perilous journey across the Indian Ocean. After capture by indigenous tribes and separation from their crewmates, the boys must trek through dangerous jungle terrain to reach safety in Bantam.