In Search of an Unknown Race — page 105: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN. 95 proof cloth, woven from goats’ hair, was the prevailing attire. A hat, woven from some peculiar species of rushes, and sandals, or a sort of low shoe, made of soft dressed leather, completed the easy and graceful cos- tume. But it must be remembered that the province of Itam- bezi is between the fifth and sixth parallels of southern latitude. The temperature of the city proper seldom rose above 90° or fell below 80° the year round. Yet there was enough humidity in the air to produce warm drenching dews at night, rendering unnecessary the prolonged rainy season met in the regions upon the equator. Occasional brief showers swept down from the mountains during three months of the year, but for the rest it might be said that it was a country bathed in perpetual sunshine. The women, both young and middle-aged, (for Van Saw no persons of either sex who might be called old,) were without exception strikingly beautiful. A white waist and rather short skirt of the same material, with a shoe of soft, untanned leather, was the quite universal garb. The head was uncovered, save for its glossy coils of abundant hair, while a few wore a sort of scarf of crimson silk thrown lightly over their shapely shoulders. But there was no chance for further observation of the manners and customs of this interesting people. The travelers had reached the great square, bordered on its four sides by massive stone buildings two and three stories high, which, as Martin explained, were set apart for the use of the city. There was a council chamber, another corresponding in certain respects to Eomicbooks. c¢