At 26, Andries Teeuw took a post boat, sailed the seas, crossed the Suez Canal, and arrived at Sabang harbor. It was 1947. His voyage held out no promise of tranquility.

Only two years earlier, Indonesia had proclaimed itself independent. The Netherlands, taking this as rebellion, sent troops to restore subjugation. But Teeuw, who came from Gorinchem in the south of Holland, came alone, although he had government funding to pursue research in Lomb