in the absence of any other anchors with which to fix the enigmatic ghiliba , martin , instead , found himself paying unusual attention to the mans appearance : he was dark-skinned , but not with the glossy black complexion like a native of these southern climes , nor like one of the european settlers exposed to too many years of the harsh sun , their skin baked into thick , red , leathery hides , resembling the dried biltong they ate .