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of goldprincipally anklets and armlets of great weight；
apparently beaten out of the solid metal。 When he
expressed a wish to examine one of these； the owner removed
it from her person and insisted； through the medium of signs；
that Tarzan accept it as a gift。 A close scrutiny of the
bauble convinced the ape…man that the article was of
virgin gold； and he was surprised； for it was the first time
that he had ever seen golden ornaments among the savages
of Africa； other than the trifling baubles those near the
coast had purchased or stolen from Europeans。 He tried
to ask them from whence the metal came； but he could not
make them understand。
When the dance was done Tarzan signified his intention
to leave them； but they almost implored him to accept the
hospitality of a great hut which the chief set apart for his
sole use。 He tried to explain that he would return in the
morning； but they could not understand。 When he finally
walked away from them toward the side of the village opposite
the gate； they were still further mystified as to his intentions。
Tarzan； however； knew just what he was about。 In the
past he had had experience with the rodents and vermin
that infest every native village； and； while he was not
overscrupulous about such matters； he much preferred the
fresh air of the swaying trees to the fetid atmosphere of a hut。
The natives followed him to where a great tree overhung
the palisade； and as Tarzan leaped for a lower branch
and disappeared into the foliage above； precisely after the
manner of Manu； the monkey； there were loud exclamations
of surprise and astonishment。 For half an hour they called
to him to return； but as he did not answer them they at
last desisted； and sought the sleeping…mats within their huts。
Tarzan went back into the forest a short distance until
he had found a tree suited to his primitive requirements；
and then； curling himself in a great crotch； he fell
immediately into a deep sleep。
The following morning he dropped into the village street
as suddenly as he had disappeared the preceding night。
For a moment the natives were startled and afraid； but when
they recognized their guest of the night before they
welcomed him with shouts and laughter。 That day he
accompanied a party of warriors to the nearby plains on a
great hunt； and so dexterous did they find this white man
with their own crude weapons that another bond of respect
and admiration was thereby wrought。
For weeks Tarzan lived with his savage friends； hunting
buffalo； antelope； and zebra for meat； and elephant for ivory。
Quickly he learned their simple speech； their native customs；
and the ethics of their wild； primitive tribal life。
He found that they were not cannibalsthat they looked
with loathing and contempt upon men who ate men。
Busuli； the warrior whom he had stalked to the village；
told him many of the tribal legendshow； many years
before； his people had come many long marches from the
north； how once they had been a great and powerful tribe；
and how the slave raiders had wrought such havoc among
them with their death…dealing guns that they had been
reduced to a mere remnant of their former numbers and power。
〃They hunted us down as one hunts a fierce beast；〃 said Busuli。
〃There was no mercy in them。 When it was not slaves they
sought it was ivory； but usually it was both。 Our men were
killed and our women driven away like sheep。 We fought
against them for many years； but our arrows and spears
could not prevail against the sticks which spit fire
and lead and death to many times the distance that our
mightiest warrior could place an arrow。 At last； when my
father was a young man； the Arabs came again； but our
warriors saw them a long way off； and Chowambi； who was
chief then； told his people to gather up their belongings
and come away with himthat he would lead them far to
the south until they found a spot to which the Arab raiders
did not come。
〃And they did as he bid； carrying all their belongings；
including many tusks of ivory。 For months they wandered；
suffering untold hardships and privations； for much of the
way was through dense jungle； and across mighty mountains；
but finally they came to this spot； and although they sent
parties farther on to search for an even better location；
none has ever been found。〃
〃And the raiders have never found you here？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃About a year ago a small party of Arabs and Manyuema
stumbled upon us； but we drove them off； killing many。
For days we followed them； stalking them for the wild beasts
they are； picking them off one by one； until but a handful
remained； but these escaped us。〃
As Busuli talked he fingered a heavy gold armlet that
encircled the glossy hide of his left arm。 Tarzan's eyes
had been upon the ornament； but his thoughts were elsewhere。
Presently he recalled the question he had tried to ask when
he first came to the tribethe question he could not at that
time make them understand。 For weeks he had forgotten so trivial
a thing as gold； for he had been for the time a truly
primeval man with no thought beyond today。 But of a sudden
the sight of gold awakened the sleeping civilization that was
in him； and with it came the lust for wealth。 That lesson
Tarzan had learned well in his brief experience of the ways
of civilized man。 He knew that gold meant power and pleasure。
He pointed to the bauble。
〃From whence came the yellow metal； Busuli？〃 he asked。
The black pointed toward the southeast。
〃A moon's march awaymaybe more；〃 he replied。
〃Have you been there？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃No； but some of our people were there years ago； when
my father was yet a young man。 One of the parties that
searched farther for a location for the tribe when first they
settled here came upon a strange people who wore many
ornaments of yellow metal。 Their spears were tipped with it；
as were their arrows； and they cooked in vessels made all
of solid metal like my armlet。
〃They lived in a great village in huts that were built of
stone and surrounded by a great wall。 They were very fierce；
rushing out and falling upon our warriors before ever they
learned that their errand was a peaceful one。 Our men were
few in number； but they held their own at the top of a little
rocky hill； until the fierce people went back at sunset into their
wicked city。 Then our warriors came down from their hill；
and； after taking many ornaments of yellow metal from the
bodies of those they had slain； they marched back out of
the valley； nor have any of us ever returned。
〃They are wicked peopleneither white like you nor black
like me； but covered with hair as is Bolgani； the gorilla。
Yes； they are very bad people indeed； and Chowambi was
glad to get out of their country。〃
〃And are none of those alive who were with Chowambi； and saw
these strange people and their wonderful