The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-31
MYSTERY OF MAsHoNALAND.
Did Solomon Work These Long ban
Nfpaao

Did Solomon Work These Long Aban-
doned MinesP
The history of Mashonaland is wrapped
in the deepest mystery. That the country
has had history worthy Of being known TO
the world of to-day may be seen from the
abundant evidences that a very large area
was extensively worked for gold by an un-
known people who have left no traces by
which they may be identified. The ancient
workings, as they are to-day, con-
sist both of shafts and cuttings OF various
kinds. The shafts are sometimes forty OF
more feet deep, with tunnels of unknown
lengths. The walls Of some of these have
fallen in aud others have large trees grow
ing in them which show that they we're
made very long time ago. Onthe surface
of the ground about the openings of main
shafts lie tons of broken quartz which car
ries a good amount Of gold; again, st the
openings of others, no loose quartz is to be
seen, yet the work done below the surface
shows immense quantities have been excA-
waited and conveyed to some distant spot,
presumably for crushing.
Another mystery in the history Of Mash
onaland is indicated by the ruins Of build
ings. There are number of these in vari-
Gus parts OF the country. but the most
perfect and Interesting are those called the
Zimbabi or Zimbase ruius, to be seen about
south latitude 200 Is and east longitude 81
30. A very considerable area is covered by
the ruins, but those Of two buildings are in
better state OF preservation than the
others. One Of these is on a high and
BOLD GRANITE HILL,
and is built Of granite hewn into blocks
somewhat larger than bricks, put together
without mortar. The walls as they now
stand are thirty feet high, over forty feet
thick at the base, and several less at the top.
This building, as well as the other, was cir
| cular in form, and seems, from its position
and construction. to be a fort. There are
slabs of granite protruding from the walls
in places containing rough zigzag orna-
| ments.
The other and larger building stands
several hundred feet below on rising
ground. The walls of this building are also
| of granite of the same hight and thickness
as those just described. For about third
| of its circumference there is one row OF
| plain ornamental figures at the top. This
building was $50 yards in diameter and had
but one or two entrances Walls running
| ia different directions stand inside, but the
thick bush which has grown up within
makes it impossible as yet TO learn any
thing definite Of the sizes and shapes Of the
Enclosures made by these inner walls. The
most curious part Of the whole building is
| that of the tower, which stands near the
outside wall 1t is constructed of the same
material as the building. This tower is
| cylindrical in shape up to the hight of ten
| feet. but after that hight tapers, aud as it
| stands IS a truucated cone Its diameter at
the base is fifteen feet. There is
NO ENTRANCE TO THE TOWER,
and 1t appears TO be solid throughout.
! Huge trees and dense bush have grown up
in the interior OF these rulus so that it
would require considerable time to clear
them away in order TO get an accurate n ct
! OF the building. II is very likely that II
! excavations were made in aud about these
ruins articles would DO found which might
sthrOw light upon the mystery surrounding
| the history Of them. I regret that il was
not possible for me 10 spend more than a
single day in making return journey OF
thirty miles TO visit these ruins.
The old gold workings and the ruins
found in MsshonAland led many 10 believe
that Ophir. the kingdom Of the Queen OF
I Sheba, whence Solomon Is said - have OBJ
teinei bis gold. was Ia MashonRand.
| Bofaia, q very old town on the east coast OF
! Africa. IL mentioned by many wribsrs rs
/ being Ia the land " Ophir The Arabs
have q very ancient tradition O. this effect,
| and those 81 kofala ts-day are said % hold
/ % this tradition. The ruins are west u me
district Of s0fsia, ard they are thought
Z 70 have been the palace Of the Q1eea o.
I Hheba. ! am o. q lies % understand how
any one who has ever seen these ruins oau
I ~ BE- very ID indeed, they d. uot by h1y
neaLs have the appasrauos ~ having been
I bpiH hpldreds ~ centuries nK9. Very feN
Nhite Hisu have ever visited too rutHs. bnf
I g. Mashonalenf b. trosn opeu ~ the CiFil-
] Iei sgrlo eFehHalogitN ail perhaps "a
amiue ihe runs, eal aiaT b. ab.s ~ taii u1
q ehni sse aeF belong