Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-20
ONCE A POWERFUL NATION.


Tho Important Past Of The How pliliul and
Tlmorous Mashonas.
Mr.. Theodore Bend has made some
surprising discoveries, says the New
York Sun, with regard to the inhabit-
ants Of Newfoundland. Eight years ago
MOntAgu Kerr describes these natives
MS n very timid people living among the
rocks and cuiunies of the mis-, Whcre
they kept n constant lookout for the
annroach of the dreaded Matnelcs
Their enemies for many years had Kept
them in a state Of terror Ny. Bend says
shat In spite of their tlmid nature ne
believed when he saw them last year
that their race had seen better days as
they retained traces OF higher ciyllizi-
ton in their skill In smelling iron, their
carvings and musical Instruments. lhey
called themselves the Makalnnga,
name which did not signify much 70
the explorer until he returned TO CIVIL
cation. when he began 10 read the works
of carly Portuguese travellers.
In the book written 300 years ago by
Dos Santos, who was o far more care
ful and ncnrate writer on Africa than
most Of his contemporaries, Mr.. Bent
was astonished 10 find this statement
referring TO tho region Of Mashonnland;
IAN these ISniiirs they call Mocnun-
gas, because they all talk the Mocarnngo
Language. The MouamataDa and all his
they have because they live in the land
OF the Mocarangn, which is the best and
most polished OF AL the Knilir lnngun-
ges | have seen"
Here we have the same name ms Ma
kalanga by substituting, as the Portu-
CUES always did, T for !. other c9nrliis-
Ne testimony with regard TO the idenuty
of the two peoples has been discovered
by Mr.. Bent and II may be regarded az
established that the timld Makalaugnd OF
to-lay are the descendants OF the once
powerful organization known IN the hN'
fecnth century MS the empire OF Mononli-
tam. a powerful kallir organization like
| do AIatabeles of to-day. which fell 10
| uieces on account Of iniernnl disseus ohs
! and finally became prey 10 the Nulu
bordes. The descriptions which Dos San
los gives of the Malinlangas OF Mononin-
] tnpa correspond exactly with the habits
| and customs Of the present inhabitants.
| He tells OF the annual sacrihce TO the
| spirits Of their ancestors. the interces7'
/ ors for thom between God ana nun,
I me bcer drinking, the iron smelling, tho
| Mashonaland piano, the weekly day OF
rest during the blowing season, hhu oln"l
1 customs which identify them WIN the
people of to-day. 81,
himself Of the writings Of Arab hsto'
riqns who lived 1000 years ago, whose
! descrintiong of the manners aud Gus
toms Of the people living IN this region
connect them with the present race,
Hence it seems very clear that the coun'
try now called Aiash9pedlaRnd has been
| Inhabited for at least LOO years by INC
ancestors Of the present barbarous race
race which at one time. had power
and some degree Of civilization. due
probably 10 its intercourse with foreign
traders; but 1t has again fallen into q
condition Of bnrbarism.
During the blowing season every sixth
day Is called Gods Day. when the people
abstain from work. The day Is inynri
ably devoted by the men TO ldrinkinl
beer aud lying idle on Tho. rocks. The
| Maahona niano consists Of more than
twenty iron notes, fixed 70 scale on q
square piece of wood and played on Q
calabash to bring out the sound. The mn
tiyes are musical race, and easily pici
up tunes to play on this instrument
The anthropoogist evidently has an In
wiling fold Tor research In the study OF
the Makalanga, whose language Is as
vet little known. The nauFes are verJ
reserved with regard 70 their CUSTOM
| aud religious obaergances'