Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-01-11

The explorations of DIR. Carl Peters
on the African continent of late years
have added much to the knowledge the
world now possesses of the ancient
mines of that continent. In a recent
letter from the Xambesi River country
the doctor reports that all the ancient
ruins along the eastern border of Ma.
shonaland belong apparently to the
same civilizntion-that. namely, of the
Sabaeans, a race nearly related TO the
phOenicians of the Mediterranean. The
land, he thinks, is the Ophir of King
SolomOn's time. The word SOfala,
which designatcs part of the coast, was
originally, he says, Sa-Ophara, or
Ophirlnnd, the prefix 81 being Egyp.
tian and meaning land. There are
many evidences that the Egyptians dis
covered the collaborating character Of
the country and worked 1t for its gold
for long period. but were succeeded
by the Phoeniclans. We have In Egypt
curious inscriptions telling of expedi-
tons during Queen Hatsepu's reign,
1900 Il. c.. to Punt, King Sanch Kara.
about 300 Il. c., also sent expeditions
to Punt, bringing back gold. ivory, val
liable woods, leopard skins, monkeys
and baboons-products identical with
those credited to Ophlr. DIR. Peters Is
of opinion that Ophir and Punt are the
same and that Ophr was originally an
Egyptian mining colony.
The evidence that the Egyptians once
occupied the country Is very strong.
Livingstone In his diary calls attention
to the fact that tribe on the ROvuma
River shows tattOOs of decidedly
Egyptian character. SOfala, as already
mentioned, has IN Egyptian prefix. DR..
Peters, during his last expedition. saw
some newly discovered Bushnen
paintings, which In form and color IRE
Of an absolutely Egyptian character"
1t II well known that the HOttentOt Ian
guage contains traces Of the ancient
Egyptians. A police officer Of Umtall
has recently found south Of Zambesi a
well .preserved Egyptian statuette four
and 4hree-fOurths inches long. repre-
senting. II Ii thought, the goddess Isis
The hierOglyphics about the waist Of
the figure have not yet been declpher'
cd, but II IL supposed to he about 1900
years old. Great interest must attach
to the statue, as It proves direct Egyp'
tian influence In South Africa. 1t can.
not have come overland from the Nile
to the Zambesi--the distance and char
acter OF interlying country precluding
intercOurse--but must have been
brought by vOyagers coming by sea
Through the Egyptians the Phoeni
clans became acquainted with the gold
mines between the Zambesi and Sab
Rivers In South Africa, and on the de
cline of the Egyptian empire the Phoe
nicians, about 1900 h. c., took posses
sion. King David and King Solomon
being neighbors Of the Phoenlclans
learned from them about the wealth OF
Ophir In the yellow metal ana drew
gold largely from that region. Many
objects found In the ruined cities on the
lZambesi testify to the presence Of q
Semitic race. wOrshipers Of Baal and
.Astarte. Zimbabwe was an ancient
PhOenician Johannesburg. Theodore
Bent. the explorer, points out that the
Notifications and water burrows Were
used In connection with the mining
business. Existing names, such a.
Massapa, Umsapa. Rusapi and Sabi
lead DR.. Peters to believe that thu
miners In the later period We're. as al
ready stated. Sabaeans or PhOenlcians
He has found In Manicaland two stones
with old Inscriptions, which seem tC
he in old Semitic characters. The
world will await the reading Of these
inscriptions and Of the inscription OF
the Egyptian statuette with much In
terest. The deserted cities ana aban
doned gold and copper mines speak fol
themselves. but their history remains
an unsOlved problem.