The Washington times., 1908-06-21
ANCIENT RUINS
IN AFRICAN VILDS
In Antiquity Parts of Dark
Continent Peopled by
Great Races.

Evidences are multiplying that Africa
contains the secrets Of a great civiliza-
ton. At present IL is practically a saw
ege land, given over TO savage animals
and equally savage men, and 1t is dil-
ficult 10 conceive that in the mists Of
antiquity this continent was peoDled
by intelligent communities.
During the present century a great
deal has been learned about this dark
continent. and the South Africa Com
pany has done much to add TO our
store Of knowledge.
The recent expedition of this company
into AIashOnaIaud. IN search OF gold.
passed the wonderful ruins Of Zimbaye,
nearly 90 miles due west of SofaIa, on
the Indian ocean. which had been
known for three centuries, but have
never been heretofore described.
They have been attributed 70 the
Moors. the Phoenicfans and the Per
SLAMS. and it is said by the old chrcn-
iClers that there were inscriptions on
stone doorways Ia these great struc-
lures, which modern archaeoIogists
have never been heretofore described.
These structures were reared Of gran
tie, hewn into small blocks a little
without mortar. In all the walls ara
seen TWO or three courses Of masonry.
where the granite blocks are inserted
in zigZag fashion.
There seems 10 be 70 doubt that they
were erected as places Of defense. and
also for the smelling. storage and nro-
lection Of gold, copper. and other
metals.
Evidence Of Smelling.
On removing a quantity or the sur
face rubbish inside. there was found
what are evidently three large circular
roasting floors. formed or burnt freclay
and slightly concave. There were also
remains Of Stag. and other evidences
that the place had been used for smelt-
ing metals.
The romantic interest which attaches
TO thess ruins lies in the fact thar thew
were found in the heart of savage
It is certain that the thing ci,-iIiz.5
men would expect TO find I'm this REGION
Where the natives belong to the love-
stages OF human development. are these
great rock structures betokening the
these wilds A-i--''
Inc natives have not even any tradf-
eluI As 70 the origin Of the ruins. There
a sI many facts proving their great an
=
stance that at one of the grear ruins
az Limbaye an ironwood tree u,f7icb
WsS undoubtedly hundreds Of wears old
nag risen through the wall and sniff ff
,,,a nc lheory Is that these ruins were
ne remains OF works erected nv r-aoDIe
VINO worked the famous mines of EinS
Solcmont or that IL was here thar rT0
Queen or Sheba reigned over q mighty
ana Industrious people.
In the neighborhood Of Zanzifa, soma
tuhe ago a traveller found some very
Interesting ruins, which were proven Ia
De OF distinctly Persian origin. He
I I,.SiI4 IlIes and fragments of pottery,
WAIch correspond exactly with the tiles
ana pottery that are discovered in the
runs or ancient villages near Teheran.
Persian Remains in Africa.
It is very curious that the Persians
nave at last been tracked to Africa.
and since their remains have certainly
been found there, 1t will not be sur
prising If it is found that they Travelled
as far south as Mashonaland. where
these remarkable ruins are found.
Whoever these Adventures were. gold
was the magnet which drew them To
this country. They landed on the coast
somewhere near SOfala. and working
westward, reared fort after fort around
ldustry.
They were evidently working in a
hostile country, and pursued their en-
terprises inside the great walls they
had reared.
The best forts were near the eastern
edge Of this gold field. They extended
almost to The region of the Zambesi on
THE north. and southwark as Jar as The
LimpopO. Westward the ruins are
found beyond the longitude Of Tati
Thus the extent OF the gold fields
worked by these ancient miners is
shown by the remains Of the fortIfica-
wT~ha ~h g. HI
lection while they were digging gold
FxchanZe