about six o'clock in the afternoon
But having been married herself , she thought she knew very well what was needed , and so , without endeavoring to persuade the negro priest that his opinions regarding the marriage rites were all wrong , or to make him understand what sort of a wedding she would have had if they had all been in their own land , she endeavored to impress upon his mind the forms and phrases of a very simple ceremony , which she believed would embody all that was necessary . Cheditafa was a man of considerable intelligence , and the feeling that he was about to perform such an important ceremony for the benefit of such a great man as Captain Horn filled his soul with pride and a strong desire to acquit himself creditably in this honorable function , and he was able before very long to satisfy Mrs. Cliff that , with Maka 's assistance as prompting clerk , he might be trusted to go through the ceremony without serious mistake . She was strongly of the opinion that if she conducted the marriage ceremony it would be far better in every way than such a performance by a coal-black heathen ; but as she knew that her offices would not count for anything in a civilized world , whereas the heathen ministry might be considered satisfactory , she accepted the situation , and kept her opinions to herself . The wedding took place about six o'clock in the afternoon , on the plateau in front of the great stone face , at a spot where the projecting rocks cast a shade upon the heated ground . Cheditafa , attired in the best suit of clothes which could be made up from contributions from all his fellow-countrymen present , stood on the edge of the line of shadow , his hands clasped , his head slightly bowed , his bright eyes glancing from side to side , and his face filled with an expression of anxiety to observe everything and make no mistakes . Maka stood near him , and behind the two , in the brilliant sunlight , were grouped the other negroes , all very attentive and solemn , looking a little frightened , as if they were not quite sure that sacrifices were not customary on such occasions . Captain Horn stood , tall and erect , his jacket a little torn , but with an air of earnest dignity upon his handsome , sunburnt features , which , with his full dark beard and rather long hair , gave him the appearance of an old-time chieftain about to embark upon some momentous enterprise .