The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08
soxs NEW BooKs.
IN, ,r,,,,s C,u.. or M.,hop.,..a.

SOME NEW BOOha
a. ~ vs. To-. ,....t5
tn. ru,ued cities or Msshopsisna.
The readers OF Rider Haggard's story king
Boiomon's Mines" were doubtless disappoint-
"a ct the lack OF any alluslon to the vestiResof
ancient gold workings in Lord Randolph
Ckutehilrs account OF the visit made by him
o. the region south OF tho Zambesi. which the
British south African Company have under
taken 20 colonize. There was. however, good
reason for Lord Randolph's refraininR from
any reference to the subject. which has been
discussed exhaustively. 80 far as present OK
plofnfions permit. by q competent nrchBolo-
rist. Mr.. ]. Theodore Bent. who made per-
sonsi examin nation OF the principal ruins two
years ago new edition Of the record OF his
excavations and deductions hns lately been
published In London by the IonRmans.
bitd contains some additional material MIR.
Bent adheres TO his original conclusion that
the ruined cities. OF which considerable re-
mains exist in Mashonaland. were built by
gold seekers from southwestern Arabia. who
preceded the Snbean epoch and antedated
tho time OF Solomon. He Is, nevertheless, con-
WINGED by additions made to the walls OF Tor
tfbsses- additions evidently belonging to
later epoch and exhibiting an inferior work.
nanship-that the gold bearing country was
Occupied a second time by emiRrants from the
amequarter. and probably representing the
Axiofnitic civilization which hourished In
southwestern Arabia for some time before
and after the beginning OF the Christian era
From that time to this. tho existence OF the
abandoned gold mines and OF the adjacent for
tresses in Mashonaland has been known to the
Arabs engaged in East African commerce.
and some information on the subject was by
them communicated to the Portuguese. There
iss%no. evidence. however. in Mr. Bents
obihlon, that the ruined cities were ever ac-
tuailyvisited by any Portuguese. and he there
fore con sders that the honor OF discovery be-
longs so far as Europeans are concerned. to
German traveller. Karl Mauch. who penetrated
aafar as the Zmbabwe ruins In the year 1871
This man wrote an accurate account OF his
observations. but discredited his discoveries
IN the eyes OF archHologists by putting for
ward the hypothesis that the hill fortress at
Zimbabwe was copy OF King solomon's
temple on Mount Moriah. and that the ruins
on the slope of the decivity were a copy OF
the palace which the Queen Of Sheba inhabit-
cd during her stay OF several years in Jeru-
salem. The result was that his report was dis
missed as traveller tale and the investiga-
ton OF the Zimbabwe ruins remained In
allegiance for nearly twenty years
- ?"
S>hsIo.. Il.
There are many ruined cities in Mashona-
land; taken oil together. they cover a great
area indicating that an extensive population
once lived there q garrison In hostile
country. for the sake OF the gold which they
extracted from the mines in the quartz reefs
between the Zambesi and Limpopo rivers.
0nly small fraction OF these have been visit
Cd BY experts but by far the largest Of them.
this ruins known as the Great Zim babwe. have
been carefully inspected by Mr.. Bent. and 1t is
from the discoveries made at this point that
his. general differences have been drawn.
ThosZimba ruins are situated In south lat
ftude 20' 10 30" and east longitude 81 10 TO-
on tho high plateau of Mashonaland. $500 feet
aboyet the sea level. and formed the capital OF u
long Berries Of such ruins stretching up the whole
I&nGfh Of the western side OF the Sab River.
They are built on granite and Of granite. gold
quartz reefs being found at distance OF few
milsa, The prominent features Of the Great
Zimbsbwe remains. which cover large area
ofground. arc. firstly. o large circular ruin with
around tower on the edge of gentle slope:
secondly. mass Of ruins in the valley imme-
distely below them. and. thirdly. an intricate
fortress on the granite hill above. which
seems to have served as the acropolis Of the
ancient city. Before noting In some detail what
Nx, Bent has to tell US about these remark
able ruins, We should point out that although
within every enclosure there was q dense
mass oftropical trees. shrubs. and vines. FORM
ing Jungle almost impossible to penetrate.
yet the walls themselves were nearly free from
vegetation; owing to the absence Of mortar.
no lichen. moss. or creeper could thrive ON
them. and the few plants which hnd pen e.rated
into creylces we're OF a succulent character.
and adapted their branches to the shape OF the
interstices. From this fact Is due the wonder
full preservation in which the walls are found.
To begin with the large ring shap cd ruin on
the slope this eventually turned out to be no
circle, but an cllipse-a form OF temple found at
Mariz. the ancient Saba and capital OF the
Saheans in Arabia. and at the castle Of Nakab
nj Hajar. also in that country Its greatest
lenetb Is $50 feet: the wall at tho highest point
A 35 feet above the ground. and Is feet at the
lowest; tho greatest bnse thickness is III feet
q inches. and the thinnest part is about 5
faet. OF this wall. as of Utmost every otne-