Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-22
RIDER HAGGARD,s "sHE."
A Pioneer and Traveller in Mashona-
land Says That She Lives.


According to Capt. C. H. Hamilton, Ma
shonaland or Matabeleland is where ruled
Queen Mastenia. the original of Rider Hag-
CARDS "She." Gen. Pretorious, whom Capt.
Hamilton met after his visit to this queen,
told him OF a wonderful experience. He said
that this queen was a white woman, and in
appearance was fully one hundred years old.
Her subjects were black. Despite her ap-
parent age her mind was clear, and she ex-
pressed herself intelligently. An old Gin
duna" told Gen. Pretorious that when he
was boy the queen was in just the same
condition. and declared that she would live
forever and would never die.
Capt Hamilton was formerly a pioneer
In Mashonaland, the seat Of the late Zulu
war and OF the present contest against Lo-
Dengula, and was also in charge of one of
the South African exhibits at the world $
fair at Chicago. Capt. Hamilton is a native
OF Dublin, Ireland, a graduate of Trinity
Conege' ana has travelled very extensively,
one OF his tours having been made with
Lord Randolph Churchill in Zululand
Inc country was evidently the seat of q
former magnificent civilization, and Can't
Taunton spent several months with Theo-
dore Sent, the archaeologist. studying the
ruins found there. The origin of these has
been much disputed, some Claiming the place
TO be the land of Ophir whence the Queen
of Sheba obtained her gold while others
holo tnat they are the remains Of an Arab
an or Phoenician colony. Capt Hamilton
holds to the latter theory. He was recently
In charge of the South African exhibits at
the worlds fair.
In speaking of Mashonaland he said.
rms is a strange, weird country to look
upon. and after the fiat monotony of Bech-
uanaiand, through which you pass to reach
1t, perfect paradise. The granite hills are
oddly fantastic, The deep river beds richly
luxuriant in their wealth of tropical vegeta-
ton and the gigantic Boabab trees antedi-
luVian In their aspect. Here one would
never be surprised to come across the roc's
.,f
selas'
Capt. Hamilton illustrated by means Of
a chart the famous Great Zimbabwe ruins,
which, he said, are on q high tab;e-land of
Newfoundland, $500 feet above the sea and
form the capital of long series of ruins
stretching the whole length of The Sabi riy-
er THESE ruins" he continued, ARE built
or granite. on granite. The prominent fea-
lures OF the Great Zimbabwe ruins are first.
the large. or ather elliptical ruin with its
round towers; second. the mass of ruins in
the valley beneath this. and third. the fort
ress on the granite hill above, acting as the
acropoiis OF the ancient city. The wall of
the circular ruin at Its highest point is is
Feet above ground. Its greatest base thick
ness Is III feet and it's thinnest 5 feet. The
portions to the south and east ar" better
built than the north and west portion az
well as thicker and higher. The courses are
marvelously true. as IL constructed With a
ieveiins nne: ana the granite stones, ham
mered into shape are exactly the same size
On the northwest the courses are slightly
Irregular and the stones Of unequal size,
suggesting almost a different period of
workmanship The walls are built without
cement or mortar and as specimens Of the
ory-buhoing art are without parallel. With
| In these walls are the sacred towers The
valley between this circular Enclosure and
the fortress on the hill is a mass of ruins
many OF the parts being very curious
The labyrinthine nature of the fortress
battles description. The hill itself is Of great
natural strength. being protected on one side
by gigantic boulders and on the othe- by a
precipice from 40 to 80 feet high On the
only accessible side the ancient inha bitants
had constructed a massive wall, IL feet
thick at the summit The top was decorated
with succession of tall round towers, al
ternating with tall monoliths. The approt CHI
to the fortress was difficult, being protected
at every turn by ambuscades The redun-
dancy Of fertilization all over this mountain.
the repetition of walls over a precipice itself
inaccessible, the care taken with every hole
| in the boulders through which an arrow
could pass, prove that the occupants were
In constant dread of attack and lived like
garrison In the heart of an enemy's coun-
try"