Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-19
AFRICA'S ANCIENT GOLD FIELDS,
DR.. Carl Peters on His Expedition to the
Ophir OF King Solomon.

There was an exceptionally largo attend
ancc at the Society of Arts, whore Dr.
Carl Peters iecturcd on "Macombes
Country; it's Ancient Goldhclds and Indus
trial Resources" says the London News.
Or carr Peters explained at the outset
that his attention was first directed TO The
Iambesi district in 1850 when he discOY-
cred near Bremen an old historical atlas
containing "A careful sketch of the old
Portuguese gold mines in what was now
known as Macombe's country. He pc-
slowed much attention to the subject and
found in Bents book on "The Ruined
cities of Mashonaland" "A passage refer
ring 10 MdsSapa, as the mine from which
the Queen of Shcba took the greater part
OF the gold which She went to offer to the
Temple of solomon, and which was Ophir,
Tor the kalirs call 1t Fur and the Moors
Afur lie CDr. Peters, published che first
result OF his researches in It book called
King Solomon's Golden Ophir," in which
he set forth that our modern name Of Af-
RIGA Is nothing but the Latin adjective
form Of the ancient Semitic word "Ophir"
or "Afer," as it was called in South Ara
bia.
At the same time he had located "Furu"
or Mount Fura." as 1t was generally
known, on the principles of geographical
criticism Fura meant. in the language
of Macombe's people, Makalanga, mine
or hole" and, therefore, had the same
'ii'''liI'LEf d'tJl llIB TO our HlOSl Itttlll
researches, as the ancient Semitic word
"Ophir" or "Afer." He therefore resoiv-
"a from scientific as well rs a material,
point Of view to 80 and explore this dis
trict on the spot. In april, 1880 he led his
expedition about 200 miles up the Fam
best river TO the eastern entrance OF the
Lupata Gorge, resulting in the discovery
Of "Mass1pa." which was described by
the lecturer as both a picturesque and
mysterious place. Above Infakafura
krdal, opposite Mount lnsusi, he Or.
peters, discovered ancient ruins of the
Semitic type. He was certain the Garrett
excavations which last year he had not
time 10 carry out, but should do so this
year, would bring to light great deal of
remarkable evidence. lie found a gold
hcIt running from a reef i'm Macombc's
country IN norhcrly direction toward
the Iambesi river The formation was al
ways the same, Several OF the gold reefs
also in the north near the same river. had
been formerly worked. Whether it would
pay TO work the plain for alluvial gold
with modern machinery. he intended TO
examine next summer The lecturer pro-
cecded to speak Of the navigable charac-
ter of some portions of the Zambosi river
ana said Macombes country possessed am
abundance of timber and fuel. and labor
was cheap and plentiful He described
the visit he paid to the great Chief Ma
tombe, by whom he was favorably re-
cciVcd.
Macombe was not a name hut a title
ana n" could prove that Monomstapa oi
the sixteenth century was then already
Identical with the dynasty of Macomh,
IN Macombe's country a man did not OK
actly pay for the girl whom he wished tc
wed, but he gave the father of the bride
Il present of goats Ten goats for prctt :
CIR. was considered ra her "A high figure
Mining held first rank among oCcupa tions
but the inhabitants were clever black
smiths. carpenters etc. Many of the
quaint customs of tho people were de-
Scr1bed, especial reference being made e
The courtesy displayed towards strangers
Macombs's country was situated in the
Portuguese sphere of interest. but up &c
this time it was practically independent
tie IDr. Peters, hoped cle Portuguese,
would be able 10 settle with Macombe. d.
that chief was we'll aware that ne had tc
settle somehow or other with the whites
whom he sees advancing in every dire.
ton. He thought that this part OF Africa
from an industrial point of view, mus
have future. He would not enter on tn,
/ question whether they had in the Fura
district the real spot of the ancient Ophir
as this question was only indirectly cor
nected with the natural wealth of Ma
Combe s country. He personally had red-
sons to believe that King Solomon's gold
I expeditions were directed TO that part OF
the world. on the Zsmbesi. Solomon
people could find all the goods which are
mentioned in the bill Of freight of tho
Ophir ships--gold, ivory, gum trees, lnG
guinea fowls as well as apes.