Ziffak placed himself at the head, as the escort, and moved up the sloping bank with the dignity of a conqueror.
The women, showed more taste in their dress, for all wore loose-fitting gowns of native cloth, gaudily colored, though the children were attired similarly to the men, with little more than a breech cloth about the loins.

Even the boys of a most tender age were each armed with a javelin, none of them, however, having the points of the weapons poisoned as did their fathers and elders when on the war-path.
Another striking characteristic of these people was the abundance of gold and diamond ornaments.

Not a woman was visible from whose ears were not suspended heavy rings of the precious metal, while the majority had diamonds fastened in the gold, all of several carats' weight, and some so large and brilliant that they would have sold for immense sums in a civilized country.
The older females had not only rings hanging from their ears, but still more valuable ornaments depended from their noses.

It would have enriched an army to loot the Murhapa village.
Each of the whites carried his Winchester, and Bippo and Pedros did not forget their almost harmless spears; but the rifle of Johnston was left behind with the valuable property.
At the moment of starting, Ziffak called to two warriors and said something in a commanding voice.

They instantly hastened to the edge of the water and placed themselves in front of the large canoe.