The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-05
TIE DARK CONTINENT.
Tho Greater Part OF II Barren Fiold
for Arch@oloRists.

Tho Greater Part OF IL n Barren Fioid
for Archaeological.
+. G. Selons, in recent magazine arti-
Gle, tells OF the beauties Of Mashunaland
in South Africa, which he calls the rich
cat country in that part Of tho continent.
According 10 all accounts, about eighty
years ago Mashunaland was densely pop
ulated and all the fertile valleys were UNI
der cultivation, but most OF the people
were killed by stronger tribes and there is
nothing left TO show that they ever lived
except tho deep pits from which they took
clay TO plaster their huts aud make their
cooking-pots and the clusters OF thorn
trees around the sites Of their villages.
While North Africa teens with the rc-
mains OF the ancient Egyptian and Roman
civilizations, no other part OF the world IN
w destitute Of prehistoric remains rs the
remainder OF the Dark Continent. Saw
age Africa Is now In the beginning Of the
iron aye, and not until within the past
two or three years have any vestigcs
OF the stone age been discovered. In all
| his wanlerings Livingstone never picked
up 10 much as a flint arrowhead. Re-
Gently, however. quite number OF an
cient stone implements have been un.
earihed In Angola aud on the Lower
| Congo.
There Is one part Of South Africa where
extensive remains Of prehistoric people
have been discovered. This region ox-
tends several hundred miles inland from
the east coast, between lS' or 20' south
latitude. This Is the region where Rider
llaggard laid the scene OF HISTORY. "Shc, ."
aud the ruins OF grcatsto walls aud tow
ems and cities that bayo been found there
leave no doubt that In prehistoric times
tho country was occupied by n civilized
people, aud that they had not only one or
two cities, but occupied q large extent Of
country aud formed n fair-sEcd State.
Some Of the walls Of these ancient towns
are twelve feet thick at the base aud reach
even now hight OF thirty feet Consid-
oring tho difference Of climate, II Il be-
licyed that those ruins have stood nearly
~ we'll ~ the most enduring monuments
Of Egyptian civilization. These interesting
relies have not vet been scientifically
studied, but Il will not be surprising II the
explorations Of the future Justify the pres.
ont supposition that tie founders OF these
cities were Phmnician colonisls, who while
founding colonies in North Africa and
Spain did not neglect this far southern
part OF Africa, whore they were induced TO
settle by the discovery OF gold In It's noun.
iains aud river beds.
But In the most Of Africa there II moth.
ing left 10 disclose the stirring history OF
early days, when wave after wave Of pop
ulaiion swept over the land. as II still &C.
curing TO some extent, tho new corners
building their homes aud founding such
prosperity a. sayagc people enjoy upon the
ruins of their predecessors. In the last
book Capt. WiSmann has written ho has
a picture Of one OF the surprising street vii.
lagos lac discovered iar south OF the Congo.
A few years later be found these villages
in ashes and their builders killed or driven
away, leaving no trace that a few more
wears will not entirely obliicrato.