The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-31
sOLOMoN's MINES FOUND.

2 rum Inc zsonsion I5siiis Ss,Ss.i
have this summer explored the
country hetweon +7c Za-rsf,-~' and he
Pungwe, in Portug 1ese East Africa ana
Eastern Aashonaland. Before L start
ed from England had acquired geo
graphical information which led me to
believe that Fura was near the eastern
entrance of the Lupata Gorge. There L
have found 1t. 1t is situated on the
banks OF the Muira river, about 10 miles
south of the Zambesi and half way be-
tween Sena and Tete. At the time of
my discovery l had with me Mr.. Puzy
and two mining engineers, MeSsrs. Ora
mann and NapOlSki l should perhaps
explain here that Fura is the native
corruption of the word Afur, by which
name the Arabs of the sixteenth cen
fury knew the district of which I am
speaking. Afur is the Sabaean or
South Arabian form of the Hebrew
name Ophir- 1 have ample proof that
the Fura we discovered and explored
this summer is the Ophirf of the Old
Testament Afur or Ophir in the Semi
tic language, means mine Fura in the
language of the people who now inhab-
Il the district also means mine.
The natives who are under the pow
erful chief Macombe, call themselves
Maklaanga, which means People of the
sun. Unlike any other Africans 1 know
they are to this day sun and fire wor-
shippers. They are quite unlike the or
binary African. and have a distinct
Jewish type of face, and in my opinion
they are a mixture of the Asiatic con-
! querors with the original Inhabitants of
the country.
On arriving in the district I soon
found that the natives had some idea
of the existence of the ancient Ophir
In fact, they wash gold themselves af-
ter the rainy season, and after storing
it in quilts, do d fairly large trade in It
with Beira and Tete
AT first 1 had great difficulties with
these people. For five weeks they re-
Ill
war dances to brighten me. Macombe,
the chief, then sent his brother Ceunete
to me, demanding what 1 meant by en-
| tering his country BY this time, how
ever, as 1 had succeeded in getting food
from other sources, Counete seemed
inclined to be friendly 1 made friends
with him and 1 have brought him to
England. Up to the present his great
| est surprise is that he has not seen the
sun. The chief subsequently gave me
valuable information regarding the po-
| sitiOn of the ancient ruins and work.
| ings, which ] at once investigated. Co
| ing to the spot indicated, 1 found an
| cient ruins of undoubtedly Semitic type.
! I discovered phallic emblems, which have
| always been connected with the ancient
! Semitic sun worship. Fura itself I
| found to possess a formation of quarz-
| ite slate and diOrite, between which gold
reefs were running. Under the ruins /
| found a large alluVial tract, in which
| we discovered gold and near it mag
| workings which I found We're not only
| surface workings, but there were also
shafts and roads hewn into the rock. I
| have built a station in this district and
| also one in Inyanga. both of which are
| in charge Of trustworthy Europeans.
| [ intend next summer to further invest
| igate the traces of diamonds. coal, white
/ mica and Saltpetre which we found.
My theory with regard to Ophir,"
| said the doctor in conclusion lis this:
/ The ancient cOnQuerors heard at the
| mouth of the Zambesi Of rich alluVial
| gold up river and sailed up to the east
| ern entrance of the Lupata, beyond
| which rapids made navigation difficult
| They then proceeded overland and
! found. under the very walls of the for
| tifcatiOns (ruinS of which we have dis
| cOVered), alluVial and also reef gold.
| They then settled for a considera Bile
| period, and afterward migrated to the
/ west toward the Ruenye. They even
| tually settled in the cool climate Of In
yanga, conquered all the districts west
| and southwest as far as the Sanyate
| river and Tete, and built a great en-
| pire along the Zambesi and Sabi rivers.
| The ancient Sabaean empire probably
| lasted for thousands of years. It's ex-
| istence was well known among the
| Semitic nations. and it is interesting
| to note that Ophir is always mentioned
| in the Old Testament without any ex-
| PLANTATION as to its locality I have seen
| enough to be assured that all the pro-
| ducts of the ancient Ophir are to be
! found on the Zambesi.
| AS a result of my investigation, the
| Arabian and Indian theories regarding
| Ophir fall TO pieces, and claim unhes-
| itatingly to have located this year the
| King Hiram