Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02
A MIGHTY FORTRESS
Built in the Heart of Africa by Some
Great Prehistoric Peoples.
ITS STORY Is A PERFECT BLANK.
The Simple Blacks Living Among Its
Ruins Have No Traditions.
PERHAPS SHEEBA'S QUEEN MADE 1T

The existence Of certain ancient ruins not
far from the British South Africa Com
pany's camp on the Mashonaland plateau
was referred to recently in letter to the
London Times from a correspondent writing
from that point. They were at the head Of
what is known as the Providen,ial Pass.
81 have since had the good fortune to
visit them," he recites in second letter,
''and now seize the first opportunity of
chronicling the existence IN this neighbor-
hood of ruins and remains OF absorbing in
terest, not only to the antiquary and arch
9ologist, but of so massive a character and
still sufficiently perfect appearance as to
make even the most casual and indifferent
sightseer pause in wonderment, and for the
first time in his Ii e, perhaps, betray genu-
inc desire to be supplied with some in
formation about these relics OF the ancient
past
A GERMAN TRAVELLERS FIND.
''Some u or IA miles from our camp to
the southeast, close to the edge of the
plateau, lie the famous ruins of Zinbabye,
long sought ior and discovered by the we'll
known German traveller, Mauch, and al
luded to and illustrated (upon verbal de-
scr1ption from him) by Baines in his work
entitled The Gold Fields OF Southeast
Africa The general impression at the
time when Mauch's discovery was first
made known to the world was that he had
good deal exaggerated what he had seen,
and had drawn considerably upon his imagi-
nation tor many OF his facts and figures.
"As matter of fact, however, his de-
scription OF these marvellous remains Is, as
many members OF this expedition are now
able to testify, in the main exact and cor
rect.
REMAINS OF MIGHTY WALLS.
"The ruins themselves lie at the base of
striking and precipitous granite 'kopje,' in
habited by one of the Mashona tribes, under
a chiet called Moghabi. The first feature to
be noticed on approaching the 'kopje' is the
existence of an outer wall, about Iour feet
high, running, apparently, right round the
entire 'kopje,' but owing to the high grass
and dense junglelike underground, it was
found impossible to trace this wall more
than half a mile. Next come indications of
second and inner wall, which it was lound
impossible to trace FOR any distance for the
same reason.
"Then, amid a perfect labyrinth OF re-
mains OF small circular buildings-a mighty
maze, but not, apparently, without some
pian-southwest OF the 'kopje' and 300 yards
from his base, we find ourselves confronted
with the startling and main feature of these
remains-namely, high wall of cir
cuIar shape, from 80 to 80 feet high,
forming complete inclosure OF
an area 80 yards in diameter.
LAID WITHOUT MORTAR.
"This wall (about ten feet in thickness at
the base and taperiDg to about seven feet or
eight ieet at the top) is built of small granite
bloc&s about twice the size of an ordinary
brick, beautifully hewn and dressed, laid in
perfectly even courses and put together
without the use of single atom of either
mortar or cement. This strange inclosure is
entered OH its eastern side by what at first
sight appears to be mere gap in the wall,
but which closer examination reveals to be
what was once a weIl-dehned, narrow en-
trance, as shown clearly by the rounded
off courses.
"Iuside the building itself (Which is most
difficult to examine thoroughly, owing both
to the dense underground and presence of
quantities of trees hundreds of years old
which conceal traces of, seemingly series
of further circular or eliiptical walls), and
close to the entrance or outer wall, here 80
feet high, stands conical-shaped tower, or
turret, 80 feet in height and 18 feet in
diameter at the base, built OF the same
granite blocks and consisting OF solid
masonry.
APPARENTLY A FORT.
s'Lastly, the remaining feature OF this
building to be touched upon in this brief
account is that on the southeast front of the
wall and 20 feet from its base runs a double
zigzag scroll, one-third of the distance
round, composed OF the same sized granite
blocks placed In diagonal positions.
"On the 'kopje' and hillside itself, too,
there are numerous traces OF remains of a
similar character, circular buildings wedged
in among boulders of rocks, walled terraces
at least nine i'll number; and, built on the
very summit, an enormous mass of granite
blocks, to, be used, apparently, as fort, and
which, owing to the complete absence OF any
disintegrating forces in this climate, is in an
almost perfect state of preservation.
s'The view obtained from the summit of
the 'kopie' commands panorama probably
unrivaled in South African scenery.
NO LIGHT ON ITS HISTORY.
"What may be the origin, history and in
tention of these curious ruins, and, in par
ticular, of the large circular building with
its cone-shaped turret, is, as far as the
members of the present expedition are con-
cerned, perfect mystery. The more scien-