The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-10
THE DISCOVERY OF oPHIR.
Dr. Carl Peters Tells of Finding the
Ancient Gold Mines.

DR. Carl Peters, on his arrival from Az
rlca yesterday. gave some details regard
ing his discovery of ophir. As a result Of
his Investigations on the subject, the dis
coverer was convinced that he knew the
location of Ophir DIR. Peters at the same
time kept his Information secret. but
claims now that his original theory was
correct and that he has actually discover
ed Ophir. In conversation with Reuters
correspondent. DIR. Peters said:
II have this summer explored the
country between the Zambesi and the
Pungwe. in Portuguese South Africa and
Eastern Mashonaland. Before / started
for England / had acquired geographical
information which led me to believe that
Fura was near the eastern entrance of the
Lupata gorge. There l have found it. 1t
Is situated on the banks of the Muira
river. about fifteen miles south OF the
Zambesi. and halfway between Sens and
Tete Al the time of my discovery had
with me Mr.. Puzey and two mining engi-
neers, Messrs, Gramann and Napolski.
Fura is tho native corruption of the word
Afur, by which name the Arabs OF the
sixteenth century knew the district of
which am speaking. Afur il the Sahaean
or South Arabian form OF the Hebrew
name Ophir. | have ample proof that the
Fura we discovered and explored this
summer IL tha Ophir ~ tho Old Testament.
Afur. or Ophir. In the Semitic language
means mine. The natives. who are under
the powerful chief Macombe cali them
selves Makalanga. which means people OF
the sun. Unlike any other Africans
know. they are to this day sun and fire.
worshipers. They are quite unlike the
ordinary African. and have distinct Jewish
type of face, and, in my opinion they are
a mixture Of the Asiatic oonauerors with
the original inhabitants OF the country.
ION arriving In the district / soon found
that the natives had some idea Of the ex-
istence of tho ancient Ophir. in fact. they
wash gold themselves after the rainy sea-
son. and after storing It in quilts do "A fair
iy large trade In IL with Beira and Tete.
At first | had great difficulty with these
people, For the first FIVE weeks they re-
fused TO sell me food. and performed war
dances 10 Brighten me. Macombe the
chief, then sent his brother Cuntete to me
demanding what | meant by entering his
country, BY this time, however, as had
succeeded in getting food from other
sources, Cuntets seemed inclined to be
friendly. ! made friend with him. and
have brought him to England Up to the
present his greatest surprise IL that he
has not seen the sun. This chief subse-
duently gave me valuable information re-
gariinx the position OF the ancient ruins
and workings. which I at once lnvesti-
gated. Going 20 the spot indicated
found ancient ruins OF undoubtedly Sc
mite type / discovered phallic emblems
which have always been connected with
thu ancient sun worship. Fura itself |
found TO contain a formation Of quartzitic
slate and diori,e, between which
Eoh reefs We're running Under
the ruins found large al
luvial tract, Ia which we discovered gold
and near II magnificent quartz reefs The
ancient workings which | found we're not
only surface workings. hat there were also
shafts and roads hswn into the rock.
have built station in this district. also
one I'm inFanga. both Of which are in
charge OF Trustworthy Europeans in
tend next summer TO further investigate
the traces Of diamonds. coal white mica
and saltpeire which we found
My theory with regard to Ophir." said
DR. Peters, In conclusion. is this. The
ancient conauerors heard al the mouth az
the Zamhesi OF rich aliuvial gold up the
river and sailed up to the eastern en-
trance Of the PupatA. beyond which rap
Ids made navigation difficult. They then
proceeded overland and found under the
very walls OF the foTtfhcAtions gFuins Of
which we have discoyeredD alluviai ana
also reef gold. Thay then settled for
considerable period. and AiserWar5 MI
grated 20 the west toward the Ruanye.
They eventually settled in the cool climate
of lnyanga. conquered all the districts
west and southwest as far as the Sanvate
river and Te.r. and built a great empire
siong the Zamoesi and sahi rivers. This
ancient Sahaean empire probably lasted
for thousands = years Its existena. was
~cI known among the Semitic nations.
and st ss interesting 20 note thai ophtr q
always mentioned IN the Old Testament
without any explanation a. 70 ia locality
I have seen enough 10 10 assured that al
me prsiWcts ~ the ancient Ophlr are %
b found on the ZambesL As the result
~ my Investigation the Arabian ana In
alan theories regarding Ophir fan 20 pieces
and claim pnhesitAtingily % have loeat-
80 ihis year tho Golden Ophir * king
solomon and King Hiram London
standard