She was a native of the coasts of Libya, where she had been kidnapped as a girl by Jewish traders, and by them passed on to Phoenicians, who sold her upon the slave market of Tyre.

In fact she was a high-bred Arab without any admixture of negro blood, as was shown by her copper-coloured skin, prominent cheek bones, her straight, black, abundant hair, and untamed, flashing eyes.

In frame she was tall and spare, very agile, and full of grace in every movement.

Her face was fierce and hard; even in her present dreadful plight she showed no fear, only when she looked at the lady by her side it grew anxious and tender.
She was called Nehushta, a name which Benoni had given her when many years ago he bought her upon the market-place.

In Hebrew Nehushta means copper, and this new slave was copper-coloured.