Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-03
QUEEN. OF sHEBA's GOLD.
Probable That She and Solomon Got
the Metal From Rhodesia.


journ in the Belwinge district. during
which time he has. in conjunction with
Mr.. George johnson. been engaged in
the exploration Of some recently dis
covered ancient ruins. says the Bula-
wayo Chronicle. Mr.. Meals inVesti-
cations lead him 10 the conclusion that
the ruins are to be referred 10 mainly
two district periods, each Of which
was historically of long duration. At
the MaYnbo ruins. better known by the
native name Of Dhlolo, lying some six
ty miles east of Bulawayo on the
Inseza belt the discoveries made indi-
cate that these ruins Were occupied at
two different periods. The lower stone
work exposed by excavation is similar
in its elaborate character 10 that of
Ziu1babwe. whereas the additions done
by the later inha are crude in
design and rough in execution. and
more after the style OF stone work
done by the Basutos today. II was
doubtless. therefore. built about 400
years ago. At this particular mine
two cannon Of Portuguese manufaC-
ture were discovered. one a brass
hreech- loader and the other an iron
rnuzzle- loader. Additional finds We're
the private silver seal Of Jesuit
priest. an incense censor. silver bells
Egyptian bronze oil lamp jewelry OF
modern manufacture. gold filagrtt-
work earrings. portion OF silver plate
wrought with embossed work in the
design OF vine and grapes. and a gold
coin or medallion somewhat smaller
than s. piece. On one side OF this the
surface was perfectly smooth; the
other had d design in relief. exquisite
~ wrought. of two birds fighting over
heart. and 50 clear thar you could
see the feathers falling through the
air Unfortunately il j. believed that
this beautiful relic. which was handed
over TO DR.. Jameson. has been lost.
Through the whole course Of Mr.
Meals previous Investigations in all
the ruins il has been his special aim
and object 10 locate the workshop and
smelling furnaces. hut hitherto all his
efforts in this direction have been baf-
fed. as although portions OF gold
crucibles Chat Is pots used to sIn-lt
gold i'm have been found in some
cases. vet the exact spot used by the
woTkI1en Of the past has not Vet been
identified. This time success has been
attained which is satisfactory, al
though thu results were rather diSap-
pointing. The crucibles. more OF leSS
broken. with a few small beads Of
visible goid still adheging to The sur
face. were found. and Mr.. Neal was
after very careful working. enabled 10
make rough sketch OF the side OF the
furnace and its immediate surround
ing. The result was disappointing in
two ways: first. because no goodly
store Of gold was found; and. secondly.
the smelling furnace was no elaborate
device. but simply constructed in the
style like that adopted by the ASiatic
Indian gold and silver smith Of today
and built OF clay. The effect is that no
Light is really thrown on the question
q whether these people We're in an a.
vauced stage Of civilization or We're
only very primitive workers. Were
they thorough adopts in their profess
sion. in short. what and who We're
they? The clay furnace. rudely
shaped receptacle containing The
amalgan To b. smelted in the pellets
or cakes, and any gold bubblins or
sp'ssting over settled in the clay.
~hich sra dually accumula ted fresh
layers of clay being added from time
to time. In one Of these furnaces six
separate layers Were found. which On
tssing broken up disclosed small pieces
OF smelted gold. What fuxes We're
used to expedite the process ii is i'm
possible TO say. but probably this
coufd b. ascertained by an analysis Of
the residue adhering TO the sides Of
the crucibles.
The peculiar pellets. which AT first
sight look like lead or shot, II cut viii
be found To- be alloy. and further. IN
subjecting them to fire. there will *
udc tiny beads II white metal which
js without doubt. mercury. Al last
only the small bright yellow bold but
ton is left. II appears. Therefore quite
certain that quicksilver was known 10
and used by these people. Copper was
also known. smeited copper haring
bcen found and probably they fash
toned bangles cat Of copper and ov-r-
laid them Uith gold bands, aS portions
OF iron bangles treated in this way
have been dicovered Mi Neal is If
opinion that silver was nut known Io
these ancient workers in precious
metals. as The only ruins M here silver
has been found ~ far ATE those of
DhOlo. ana the silver bangles beads
ctr are probably due u the Jesuit
priest 1t Is not improba bl- that III Or
ms people exchanged silver for gold.
anger quantity Of The former Ipr I
smaller quantity Of tn latter or
another point. Mr.. Neal hazards
conjecture. which j. Al any rate
plausible. ana in support of which
.5pu1e evidence can be adduced Il 70
tstes in thu first place to the sheet Of
beaten gold which MAS probably over
iaid on wood and secured by The gold
nails discovered. covering either some
SACRED iuol. rol Or staff OF oiiirr
The great question still remains.
Who were these people,? Now. TAX
ing Biblical history as the most am
thhntie gold was very plentiful in the
tim. OF King solomon He and also
the Queen Of Sheba possessed q great
desi ot IL. in the great temple il was
largely used for decorative purposes.
the expression beaten gold" being
Very noticeable though gold nails are
not mentioned Now. the Queen Of
Sheba must have obtained gold
through the trading Of her merchants.
Further, il is a very curious fact that
Mr.. Neal has discovered carved on
howis made of soapstone figures Of The