The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-06-02
THE RUINS IN MASHoNALAND.
Mr.. Bent Summarizes the Archaeological
Results of His Labors.

Mr. Theodore Bent, who spent sew
| eral months last year examining the
ancient ruins in Mashonaland, has
epitomized the archaeological results
of his labors. He has not yet returned
to England, as he has stopped at Lis
bon on his way home in order, if pos
sible, to find in the archives facts con-
cerning the early Portuguese occupancy
of the country which may throw some
light upon these still ancient works.
He was engaged at Zimbabwe during
the months of June, July, and part of
August. keeping a force of native la
borers ekcavating among the ruins.
The large circular building which has
been pictured in the Sun he found to
be perfect specimen of an ancient
Phallic temple. Parallels to this tenn
pie are to be found in the round tenn
pies at Malta and the temples at Sam
othrace and elsewhere. The PhGnician
coin of ByblOs is curiously exact rep
resentation of the temple at Zimbab-
we. Mr.. Bent does not mean to imply
that Zimbabwe is of Phnnician origin,
but its origin is kindred and is to be
found in the mystic religions of the
C'tSt w hlNh "tSb" ttIt.
Some distance from the temple are
the remains of the fortress, where many
more discoveries were made. On a
summit, approached with difficulty, an
elaborate system of Notifications had
been erected, regardless of labor and
strategic value A wall 13 feet thick
and 81 feet high runs along the edge
of a sheer precipice, itself 80 feet high.
This wall is surmounted by monoliths
alternating with small round towers,
and is again protected by an inner
wall. 1t is hard to account for this
redundancy of defense. The most nu-
merous discoveries were in what was
once the temple of the fortress. The
outer walls of this temple had been
decorated with carved birds on the top
of sOapStOne pedestalS. all archaic in
design. One bore on its pedestal and
wings n well-knOwn Phallic symbol
and one had its beak intact, showing
it to be meant for vulture or raven.
Iron bells were found of curious form,
doubtless used for temple service. In
the middle of the building stood an
altar made of small granite blocks.
About forty more objects were found
them 50 realistic as to leave no doubt
as TO their purport. Many fragments
of pottery of excellent glaze and work
manship were also found The pat
terms were mostly geometric, but exc
cuted with absolute correctness. There
were also numerous implements of
war, including gilt spear-lfead, and
in one corner were fragments of Per-
sian and Celadon china, doubtless en-
changed for gold by traders of some
remote period.
The most interesting discoveries
were those in connection with the
working of gold. A gold smelling
furnace of hard cement was among
the discoveries. Near it were many
cement crucibles, in which are still
fixed in the glaze many specks of gold
about the size of pins head. Hard
by in a chaSm between two powders
lay all the rejected quartz castings
from which the gold-bearing quartz
had been extracted prior to crushing,
proving beyond a doubt that these
ruins, though themselves far removed
from any gold reef. were the capital of
gold-producing people who had
chosen this hill fortress with its gran
ite powders on account of its peculiar
strategic advantages. Many tools for
extracting gold from the furnaces,
burnishers, crushers, etc. We're found.
There are many other ruins in the
immediate neighborhood of Zimbabwe
presenting the same features In fact,
the whole country from the Lundi
river to the ZambeSi is studded with
them. They have the same architect
ural features, and were certainly erect
ed by the same race. Fifteen cases of
Mr.. Bent'S collection are now on their
way to England. Mr.. Bent has not
yet had time fully to develop his the
ories with regard to the origin of these
discoveries, though he has proven be-
yond doubt that at very early day
this region was inhabited by a people
who did not originate in Africa, who
were advanced in civilization, who
were undoubtedly great explorers, and.
having in the course of their long trav-
els found gold in this country, sent
colonies to occupy the land. 1t is the
remains of the immense structures
they reared and of the objects they
made that in these days have been
discovered where now only simple,
savage people reside.-N. y. Sum.
The Blind Chaplain.