The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-02

word "Ophir,' or "Afer," as it was
 called in South Arabia.
 At the same time he had located "Fura," or Mount Fura," as it 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 meaning, ac-
 cording to our most recent researches,
 as the ancient Semitic word "Ophir" or
 "Afer." He therefore resolved from a
 scientific, as well as a material, point of
 view to go and explore this district on
 the spot. In April, 1890, he led his ex-
 pedition about 200 miles up the Zambesi
 River to the eastern entrance of the
 Lupata Gorge, resulting in the discovery
 of ''Massana,' which was described by
 the lecturer as both picturesque and
 Kraal, opposite Mount Insusi, he Dr.
 Peters, discovered ancient ruins of the
 Semitic type. He was certain the care
 full excavations which last year he had
 had not time to carry out but should
 do so this year, would bring to light
 great deal of remarkable evidence. He found a gold belt running from a reef
 in Macobe's country in a northerly di-
 rection toward the Zambesi River. The
 formation was always the same. Sev- eral of the gold reefs also in the north, near the same river, had been formerly
 worked Whether 1t would pay to work the plain for alluvial gold with modern machinery, he intended to examine next etII speak of the navigable character of some portions of the Zambesi River, and said Macombe's country possessed an abundance of timber and fuel, and labor was cheap and plentiful. He de- scribed the visit he paid to the great Chief Macombe, by whom he was fa- vorably received.
 Macombe was not name, but title, and he could prove that Monomstapa of the sixteenth century was then already with the dynasty of Macombe. In Macombe's country a man did not exactly pay for the girl whom he wished to wed, but he gave the father of the bride a present of goats. Ten goats for a pretty girl was considered rather a high figure. Mining held first rank occupations but the inhabitants were clever blacksmiths, carpenters, etc. Many of the quaint customs of the people were described, especial refer ence being made to the courtesy dis played toward strangers. Macombe's was situated in the Portuguese sphere of interest, but up to this time 1t is practically independent. He (Dr Peters, hoped the Portuguese would be able to settle with Macombe, as that chief was we'll aware that he had to settle somehow or other with the whites whom he sees advancing in every direc- | .ion. He thought that this part of | Africa, from an industrial point of ! view, must have future. He would lot enter on the question whether they vas only indirectly connected with the ,f the ancient Ophir as this question lad in the Fura district the real spot [ natural wealth of Macombe's country. | He personally had reasons to believe | hat King Solomon's gold expeditions were directed to that part of the world. )n the Zambesi Solomons people could | ind all the goods which are mentioned l n the bill of freight of the Ophir ships gold, ivory gum trees, and guinea owls, as well as apes.-London News