4. At (476 ft.); from Parallel Passage t_Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of Rhodesia

partially obstructed at half-way through by stones and dirt; very

decided fall outwards; curves slightly towards east; covered with large

slabs; interior opening 11 in. high, 7 in. wide; exterior opening 10

in. high, 10 in. wide.

5. At (515 ft.); from Parallel Passage to Outer Parallel Passage;

interior opening buried in débris supporting wall threatening to

collapse; exterior opening 10 in. high, 6 in. wide; covered with large

slabs; exterior portion shows decided fall outwards; clear for 8 ft.,

probably further.

6. At (549 ft.); from No. 2 Enclosure to exterior of temple; clear for

13 ft. from interior; exterior opening buried under very old Makalanga

clay floor; covered with large slabs; interior opening 11 in. high, 8

in. wide; shows a fall outwards.

[Drains Nos. 1–6 pass through main wall at points where it is from 13

ft. 6 in. to 16 ft. wide.]

_Drains through divisional walls_:—

7. From No. 14 Enclosure to Parallel Passage facing drain 2 at (391

ft.); exterior opening 12 in. high, 7 in. wide; shows outward fall;

covered with large slabs; passes through wall 6 ft. wide at drain

level; interior end blocked up.

8. From No. 11 Enclosure to Sacred Enclosure (east); on north side of

small conical tower; penetrated for 6 ft., at which point it is blocked

up; rises sharply inside; exterior opening 9 in. high, 6 in. wide;

interior opening blocked up and covered over.

9. At north end of South Passage; from South Passage to Parallel

Passage; decided fall outwards; covered with large slabs; clear for

5 ft.; interior opening 10 in. high, 8 in. wide; blocked up at outer

opening by débris supporting dilapidated wall.

[Pieces of granite cement lining also found here in 1892 and 1902.]

10. From No. 1 to No. 3 Enclosures; at south corner of No. 3; exterior

opening 11 in. high and 7 in. wide; shows fall outwards; covered with

slabs; curves towards south; clear for 6 ft. 6 in.; interior opening

covered by clay floor of Makalanga hut.

11. From No. 15 Enclosure to Inner Parallel Passage; fall outwards;

exterior opening 12 in. high, 8 in. wide; interior opening blocked up

and covered over by soil and wall débris; clear for 5 ft.

_Drains at entrances_:—

12. Through south entrance to South Passage; discovered by Sir John

Willoughby; under centre of steps; outlet on lower face of steps.

13. Under step and parallel with wall at entrance to Sacred Enclosure

(west) from No. 9 Enclosure; two similar drains on Acropolis.

_Drains through an outer wall_:—

14. On north-west side of southern end of North-East Passage; through

base of wall 4 ft. 6 in. wide; eastern exterior opening 8 in. high, 9

in. wide; covered with lintels; clear for 3 ft.; extended eastwards as

an open drain 8 in. wide towards foot of steps of north entrance to the

temple.

15. Through wall dividing No. 10 Enclosure from Platform Area. This has

a fall eastwards, and is in a good state of preservation.

[Illustration: EXTERIOR OF A DRAIN, ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE]

[Illustration: MONOLITHS ON THE PLATFORM, ACROPOLIS

(_Also see p. 315_)]

DRAINS AT ACROPOLIS RUINS

16. In Western Temple, in divisional wall “A” (see plan and

description); drain-hole passes 5 ft. from north to south; northern

opening 9 in. high, 11 in. wide; impossible to state the fall owing to

stones and dirt inside; fragments of cement lining were found here in

1891, 1892, and 1902. [The interior of this temple was on the north

side of wall “A,” as well as on the south side of wall “D,” much higher

than between these two walls, which form a small amphitheatre (Bent)

within and at the west end of the larger amphitheatre formed by the

main walls of the temple. This is obvious to anyone examining the

interior. Practical builders have recently stated their belief that

when the lower and western side of this smaller amphitheatre is cleared

of débris drains will be found at the base of the main west wall,

which, so far as discoveries have been made, is the widest ancient

wall in Rhodesia. The whole interior of the temple, and the formation

rock over which, but not upon which, it is built, slant at all points

downwards to the foot of the inner face of the main wall.]

17. On west side of Upper Passage and leading from _Little Enclosure_;

exterior opening 9 in. high, 6 in. wide; clear for 3 ft. inwards;

interior opening covered with débris.

18. East corner of South Enclosure A; through south wall; 4 ft. long;

fall outwards; covered with large slabs; exterior opening 12 in. high,

8 in. wide; interior opening dilapidated.

19. East entrance of Eastern Temple leading from temple to Gold Furnace

Enclosure; under pavement of entrance; still 5 in. deep.

DRAINS IN VALLEY OF RUINS

20. In B section of Posselt Ruins in a divisional wall at extreme

north-west end of ruins.

21. In B section of Posselt Ruins in a divisional wall on north side 4

ft. wide.

22. In B section of Posselt Ruins in main south wall.

23. In Philips Ruins through a substantial wall east of large curved

wall.

24. In Philips Ruins through wall on east side of previous drain.

25. In Mauch Ruins in divisional wall.

26. In Mauch Ruins in east main wall.

27. In Mauch Ruins in east wall of the outer enclosure.

• • • • •

_The battering of walls._—The backward incline of both faces of walls

from their bases to summits is a general characteristic in ancient

architecture at Zimbabwe, and in all other ruins which belong to the

earliest known type of ancient buildings in this country. This feature,

so far as examinations have been made, is conspicuous by its absence

from all buildings of the second or later period. So noticeable is

this feature in the main walls of the Elliptical Temple that visitors

viewing the walls from the interior constantly affirm their belief that

the walls have commenced to lean over towards the exterior, and when

viewing the exterior faces of the identical walls declare that the

walls are leaning inwards and must ultimately fall inside the building.

This is a mere optical delusion.

The main walls, portions of which are believed to have stood some

3,500 years, are, if given the same conditions to which they have been

subjected in past times, quite likely to be standing at the end of

another millennium, if not longer, for the battering-back is a most

important element of their massive strength, and has proved to be the

main factor in securing their durability. Of course, some main walls

in certain places show signs of bulging out and of damage caused by

earth movements, possibly earthquakes, also by lightning, the sinking

of foundations by water or damp, or growth of trees within their

open dry masonry during the long period since their erection. Some

faces of the walls show a complete swagging from end to end of their

lengths, and yet the batter-back has preserved the walls practically

intact throughout with each block occupying its original relative

position. The appearance of such walls strongly suggests the effects of

earthquake, and while these earth-movements would destroy a plumb wall,

a wall with a severe batter-back, such as is seen in all the older

walls at Zimbabwe, would on this account be comparatively safe from

such effects.

In some instances the battering is very severe and exceeds that of

1 ft. in 6 ft., and the native labourers can scale such with ease.

Looking at the rounded extremities of any of the most ancient walls,

one notices that their sides resemble the lines of a lighthouse as

popularly conceived, in many instances the batter-back being more

severe near the base and near the summit, and many of such rounded ends

of walls where still perfect show very graceful lines of battering. So

carefully is the batter-back worked out in the courses that looking up

or down the face of the wall one can scarcely see a quarter of an inch

of face of protruding block out of the line of the battering.

To secure the batter of the walls the blocks are not slanted downwards

at their inner side, but are laid on a true dead level reaching from

face to face of the wall on either side, and in their outer courses

their outside edges are placed back from the outer course below. So

slightly do these courses recede one above another that in the height

of only a few courses it would be almost impossible to detect the

presence of any battering, while it is very decidedly noticeable in a

height of some few feet.

Bent’s estimate of the extent of the battering of walls at Zimbabwe,

namely, 1 ft. in 6 ft., is fairly exact with regard to many of the

walls, but excessive with regard to others, such as the main walls of

the Elliptical Temple, while for many walls it is perfectly correct.

The battering in most instances being more perceptible near base and

summit than on the intermediate face of the wall, and the summits in

many cases having disappeared, the batter-back, as ascertained by

plumb lines, has consequently been considerably reduced. Where the

original summits are still practically intact, and where there have

been no bulging out of the faces of the walls, and the top courses on

the edges do not lean outwards as they frequently do, on account of

creeper and tree growths, the 1 ft. in 6 ft. is frequently approached,

for instance, south wall _Western Temple_, 4 ft. 8 in. in 31 ft.;

_Pattern Passage_, 2 ft. in 13 ft. In low walls 1 ft. in 6 ft. is very

frequently reached.

The main walls of the Elliptical Temple, as shown in the _Table of

Battering_ (see _Elliptical Temple, Main Wall_, Chapter IX.), are much

less than 1 ft. in 6 ft., a fair average for inside faces being 1 ft.

in 11 ft., but at some points it is only 1 ft. in 15 ft., and for

outside faces 1 ft. in 10 ft. and 1 ft. in 8 ft.

(For the battering of the _Conical Towers_, see descriptions of those

structures.)

• • • • •

_Monoliths._—In most of the ruins of both major and minor importance

at Zimbabwe, numerous beams of slate and granite, varying from 4 ft.

to 14 ft. in length, have been found, some of the slate beams showing

signs of having been treated with tools. It has been the custom of

many writers to call these beams “monoliths.” In the greater number

of instances these beams can be shown never to have been employed as

monoliths. So far, at Zimbabwe, authenticated monoliths have been

discovered only at the Elliptical Temple, and the Eastern and Western

Temples of the Acropolis and Philips Ruins. Many of the beams found

in these buildings are not and never were employed as monoliths, and

the greatest possible care has to be taken in discriminating between

monoliths and ordinary beams.

Monoliths have their bases marked and worn by the stones in the sides

of the holes on the summits of the walls in which they now stand or

once stood, as if they had later become loose and had moved or even

oscillated constantly while still in a fairly upright position. The

marking of such as have fallen shows that they were made by rubbing

against the edges of the enclosing blocks when the monoliths were in a

perpendicular position, while some of the jagged notches on the bases

must have been made when the monoliths were in a slanting position.

The stumps of beams left in the side walls of entrances and passages

which were once covered by slate and granite lintels, and across which

the upper portions of the walls were carried, do not show the same

markings; in fact, such ends of slate and granite lintels are not found

to be worn by the friction caused by contact with the edges of blocks,

and besides, these lack all evidence of having occupied a perpendicular

position, or of having been exposed to the weather. Monoliths are

decomposed and weather-worn on all faces, but there is generally more

lichen on their south faces.

Further, the bases of monoliths, plain or carved, especially those

of soapstone and slate, are found to have their lowest extremities

water-worn into smooth faces or grooves at such points round their

faces where the bases did not come in contact with the enclosing

blocks, and this smoothing has obviously been caused by rain-water

running down the faces of the monoliths to the lowest part of their

bases, till at last, especially those of slate, the bases which

were once of greater circumference have become worn and tapered.

The thickness of the wall and the depth to which the bases of the

monoliths were built into them would prevent the sun’s heat drying the

damp bases, and would so keep them moist for a long time after every

shower. This constant moisture has caused the bases to splinter while

the exposed portions of the monoliths remained practically intact.

This water-wearing and the splintering on account of damp are absent

in beams employed for any purpose in a horizontal position, and these

usually show unmistakable signs of having been very well preserved from

the effects of the weather, and the extremities of such beams do not

taper, neither have they become splintered, and are usually as wide as

the main portion of the beam.

Undoubted monoliths of granite and slate have been found used by

Makalanga as building material for their walls, and also as posts

for cattle kraals. Also, in many cases, as posts for graves, and for

decoration of Makalanga walls.

• • • • •

_Soapstone monoliths and beams._—Monoliths of soapstone have only been

found in the three temples, but in greater profusion in the Eastern

Temple on the Acropolis, and at Philips Ruins. Here they were found by

their sections to have been of various diameters, but every one had

been shaped with tools, some being artistically, others only crudely,

decorated, but the majority were plain. Chevron pattern was evidently

the favourite design employed. The Makalanga are believed to have

used some of the broken sections of soapstone monoliths and beams for

carving their _I-daha_ pipe-bowls, in making which they are known to

have excelled. This would save them the necessity of transporting the

material to Zimbabwe from the soapstone formation, the nearest point of

which is twelve miles in a north-western direction. Natives to-day have

been seen taking away very small splinters of soapstone found in the

débris heaps. These they cut with a knife into any crude shape that may

be suggested to their passing fancy. The number of bases of soapstone

monoliths is far greater than the number of splintered or broken

sections found in the wall-débris heaps along the foot of the walls.

Several sections of rounded soapstone beams were also found among the

blocks on the summit of the main wall of the Elliptical Temple, and

other sections were also discovered here in the débris at the foot

of either side of the main wall. These sections, though plain, are

beautifully finished, but being the lower portions above the bases, are

without pattern. Probably the higher portions were decorated, as the

decoration in several instances of soapstone beams discovered does not

extend low down on the monoliths. The radii of the sections found in

the Elliptical Temple varied considerably, while some had flat-worked

faces with narrow ends artificially rounded.

The discovery in all three temples of so many bases and sections of

different sized soapstone monoliths suggests the question: Have the

present standing slate and granite monoliths been, at any rate in some

instances, erected at a later period to replace fallen or fractured

soapstone monoliths?

(_a_) Splinters of undoubted soapstone monoliths, some carved with

geometrical patterns, have been found in large quantities in the lowest

strata of wall-débris at each of the three temples only; sometimes they

were found on the formation rock and below the wall débris, but at

the foot of all the faces of the walls on the summits of which are at

present only slate and unhewn granite are monoliths still more or less

complete and erect.

(_b_) On the summits of walls on which are slate and granite monoliths

numerous small fragments of rounded lengths of soapstone, identical

with soapstone beams and some similarly carved, have been found. These

instances were frequently noticed in all the temples, May-November,

1902, but especially in the Elliptical Temple, where are now only

granite and slate monoliths.

Bent deduced from the various succeeding styles of Zimbabwe

architecture that the ancient style of workmanship changed its form

some time between the period of the earliest builders and the later

ones, and this would explain why the original monoliths were of more

artistic form, with carvings and decorations. How far this has any

connection with the theory of the probable substitution, patent, at

any rate, in some instances, of plain and unhewn granite and slate

monoliths for the fallen and ornate soapstone monoliths, it might be

premature to enlarge upon at present, for, judging by the condition of

the oldest walls on which certain granite monoliths are fixed, some of

these monoliths sunk deep into the summits of the walls were obviously

erected when the walls were originally constructed. For instance, one

carved soapstone monolith was found built into a wall on the north side

of the Western Temple to a depth of 5 ft., while the original height of

the wall could not have been more than 8 ft.

However, both ancient architecture and relics unquestionably prove that

between the earliest and the latest periods of ancient occupation there

was a marked falling off and decadence in the conception and erection

of both buildings and in the character of the articles found.

• • • • •

_Number of monoliths still more or less erect._—The number of monoliths

still erect, or which have fallen, is as follows, but the number may

be further increased as the débris at the bases of the temple walls is

examined:—

At Elliptical Temple.—Nine granite monoliths still erect, nine fallen;

no slate monoliths erect, five fallen; two granite monoliths, one of

which is fractured, stand in No. 5 Enclosure.

At Eastern Temple, Acropolis.—There are no soapstone monoliths now

standing, but a considerable number of sections of slate and soapstone

monoliths, including bases, were found in the débris. Mr. Posselt, who

resided at Zimbabwe before the Chartered Company took possession of

the country, states that in 1888 three soapstone beams, with birds

on their summits, were standing in the interior of the left-hand side

of the West Entrance, and one at the northern end of the summit of

the main east wall, on which is the dentelle pattern. The three beams

stood on a small raised platform, and as this temple was then used as a

cattle kraal, the cattle rubbed against them and eventually pushed over

the beams.

At Western Temple, Acropolis.—There are twelve slate and four granite

monoliths still standing on the walls, and four slate monoliths, three

still intact, have been found in wall-débris. Originally those on the

south and west walls were exactly equi-distant. Bent found and removed

several sections of different soapstone monoliths, both decorated and

plain, but he found no soapstone bird in this temple. In 1891 the lower

portion of a soapstone bird was discovered and taken to Johannesburg,

and its whereabouts are at present unknown. In August, 1902, the head

and neck of this same bird were found, as also a length of the beam

upon which it stood, and this is beautifully carved with chevron

pattern. This beam originally stood on the summit of the north wall.

All slate monoliths are plain, but many of those of slate have been

rounded with tools of which they bear the markings.

Several monoliths have fallen since 1888. One immense granite beam

which occupied an upright position immediately north of _The Platform_

in the Elliptical Temple has disappeared since 1891. A monolith in

the interior facing the _Western Entrance_ has fallen within the last

few years, while a tall granite beam at the same spot has broken off

just above the ground within the same period. Another tall granite

beam occupied the _Central Area_ in the temple, and this has also

disappeared within the last seven years.[44] Relic prospectors of the

nineties appear to have excavated round the spots occupied by monoliths

and caused their fall.

The finest specimen of a bird on a soapstone beam yet discovered at

Zimbabwe was found by the author in _Philips Ruins_ in February, 1903.

• • • • •

_Slate and granite beams._—These are plentifully found in all the

enclosures. Sections and splinters of slate beams are found in

entrances which have portcullis grooves, one still standing in

position 8 ft. above the floor. Slate beams used as entrance posts in

portcullis grooves were erected before the building of the entrance,

as the enclosing blocks follow the irregularities of the beams. Wood

posts found in some portcullis grooves in poorer built walls are not

considered ancient, and their comparative modernity is testified to by

experienced builders who have very recently examined a collection of

such posts. Mopani hard wood and mahobohobo have not been used in all

such instances, some of the posts being of soft wood. Wooden posts have

not so far been found in well-built entrances. The posts outside the

clay huts of old Makalanga are older in appearance and condition than

the majority of the posts found in the poorer entrances, though they

very closely resemble one another in measurements and in the wood used.

In one instance the groove was too large for the wooden post which had

been wedged in with granite splinters, the granite being only slightly

weathered.

Slate and granite beams were also employed for the bonds and ties of

walls, also for ties in sharply curved walls, also for supporting the

roofs over covered passages.

The nearest point to the slate formation is seven miles in a

north-easterly direction. It is believed that the long granite beams

were brought from the Lumbo Rocks, one and three-quarter miles to the

south, where a great quantity of exactly similar shaped beams are to be

seen lying scattered round the high perpendicular column of granite,

the sides of which split off into the shape of the long monoliths found

on the Acropolis.

• • • • •

_Cement dadoes._—One of the discoveries made recently in clearing the

lower portions of interior faces of walls from débris, which appears to

have covered them for centuries, is that some portions of such walls

have been found to be covered with the remains of excellent granite

cement dadoes. This is particularly to be noticed on three walls of the

_Sacred Enclosure_, on the south wall of _No. 11 Enclosure_, and at the

_Little Enclosure_ and the _Upper Passage_ on the Acropolis, and in

other ruins where portions of this dado still remain.

These dadoes extended to a height of 7 ft., the cement being found in

patches still intact and in the joints of the blocks to this height,

the courses above this height being entirely free from traces of cement.

In passages and narrow places great quantities of this cement lay on

the original floors along the bottoms of the walls on either side, some

fragments showing on their backs the ribbed markings of the courses

up against which the cement had been pressed, also bevelled edges, as

if from the top and ends of such dadoes. This was particularly the

experience on clearing out the _Parallel Passage_ in the Elliptical

Temple. It is possible that these dadoes had once facings of white

soapstone clay, beautifully smoothed, for this was found on some

fragments of such cement dadoes, and the facing, when cut with a knife,

powdered exactly as soapstone does.

It can be noticed by anyone that the lower portions of the walls which

once had dadoes have their block faces somewhat roughly built as

compared with the upper portions of the walls. This appears to suggest

that the original builders, in erecting the wall, had calculated upon

certain portions of the faces being covered with dadoes. These rougher

surfaces would provide a better hold for the cement than would the

smoother faces of the walls above.

The cavities in the dry masonry of the main walls of the Elliptical

Temple contain cooled air even at noontide, and this rushes out from

between the courses with such a force as to make it impossible to light

a match close to them, while it is a very easy matter to carry on a

conversation through a wall 15 ft. thick and 32 ft. high.

To the original builders who, as is shown elsewhere, thoroughly

understood and appreciated the art of sanitation, it is quite probable

that these dadoes were considered necessary, especially as these dry

masonry walls are the homes of snakes, lizards, and other unpleasant

reptiles and creatures which probably were more abundant here three

thousand years ago when, as competent scientists affirm, the climate

was more humid. Whether for the exclusion of sound, for the securing

of privacy, for the protection of their dwellings from reptiles, or to

avoid the tearing by rough granite blocks in very narrow passages of

such garments as they might have worn, or for the purpose of artistic

effect—and these ancients practised several fine arts—the fact has

recently been revealed that at any rate some of the ancient walls were

once covered with these cement dadoes.[45]

• • • • •

_Built-up crevices._—On the Acropolis Hill cliffs and boulders form

such prominent features that these have often been employed as sides

of enclosures. The ancients were in many instances at great pains to

build up crevices and fissures in rocks, especially where these are in

or near the enclosures. Even small crevices only a foot or so wide,

and penetrating into the face of the cliffs and rocks for but two

or three feet, the front being the only part giving access to such

fissures, are carefully built up flush with the face of the rock. Some

large perpendicular fissures in the cliffs have been so built up to an

immense height. One fissure on the south side of the Rock Holes Path

has been built up for 40 ft. above the ground. This fissure is from 1

ft. to 3 ft. wide. The effect caused by this column of blocks running

up the face of the cliff is very strange. Some fissures are so narrow

that very small blocks have been used. From some of such fissures the

built-up courses have fallen away, leaving a few courses, here and

there at different heights wedged in between the sides of the fissures,

and occasionally one sees a single block wedged into a fissure at

an immense height above any ruin. This building-up of crevices and

fissures is to be found almost over the whole face of the hill where no

ruins are now to be seen. If two boulders are near together, it may be

taken as almost a moral certainty that on examining the boulders they

will be found to be connected with a wall, even if the space be only a

foot or two wide.

In a similar manner the holes under overhanging boulders have been

neatly built up so as to effectually hide the hole. The natives have in

two or three instances removed sufficient of the blocks to enable them

to pass a corpse through, after which, with their peculiar style of

building—column form—they have filled up the gaps with walling.

• • • • •

_Holes in walls other than drains._—This peculiar feature of ancient

architecture is especially prominent at the Acropolis, also in East

Ruins, and in almost all the ruins in the Valley of Ruins. There

are holes, generally square, in the lower parts of the walls at two

or three feet above any ancient floor. They are found only on the

inside faces of walls, not one as yet having been discovered on the

outer face. That they are intentionally made is a matter of ocular

demonstration, for many have lintels either of large granite slabs or

of slate beams. The blocks of the side framings are all built flush

with each other. Their peculiarity is that they do not extend back

into the wall for more than the length of a block, in one case of two

blocks, and the internal packing blocks in the wall are seen inside.

One such recess on the Acropolis shows traces of having once been lined

with granite cement. The bottom portion of a similar recess in Upper

Passage also has remains of cement lining. The largest recess is to be

seen on the west side of a divisional wall in East Ruins. This is 3 ft.

high and 1 ft. 10 in. wide. No such recess has so far been discovered

in the Elliptical Temple, but at least fifty have been found elsewhere

among the ruins.

• • • • •

_Blind steps and platforms._—In several enclosures in the principal

ruins at Zimbabwe, but mainly at the Elliptical Temple, and in the

angles formed by the meeting of side walls of the enclosures, are to

be seen small raised platforms approached by two or three steps. These

steps could not have led to higher positions than the small platforms,

that is, they could not have been intended for mounting to the summit

of the wall, for the bottom steps are at far too short a distance from

the walls in comparison with their heights, besides which, the steps

and platforms are perfect in themselves, and their summits, judging by

the condition of the cement floor, terminated as is seen to-day. Nor

are there any signs on the faces of the walls above such platforms of

any steps, or that the blocks in the angles of the walls were at any

time protected from the weather by any higher structure.

These blind steps surmounted by miniature platforms are made of blocks

thickly covered with granite cement similar to that found on the lowest

floors of the temple—the steps being large and deep and boldly rounded

off. The shape of these erections reminds one of the steps and raised

platforms which are frequently seen in stableyards at home, and were

once very generally used as mounting blocks.

Bent, unfortunately, discovered only one of these platforms, and this

was the one on the north side of the Sacred Enclosure (west), and when

he saw it the platform was covered with débris, evidently débris,

judging by its age, put there by Dr. Mauch, who had been exploring

in this portion of the enclosure. This débris was foreign to this

particular spot and had evidently been removed from nearer the Conical

Tower. Bent therefore conjectured that these blind steps once led to

the summit of the south wall of The Platform. The height of the wall

here, 12 ft., could not have been surmounted by these steps, for if

carried upwards with the same class of step as below, they would have

failed to reach half-way up the wall.

These erections might have served a similar purpose for the enclosures

in which they were erected, as did the large Platform immediately

in front of the Conical Tower for the whole of the Temple. The best

examples are in the north-east corner of No. 12 Enclosure, the south

corner of No. 7 Enclosure, both in the Elliptical Temple, and in the

south-east corner of the Western Temple and in the north, east, and

west angles of the Eastern Temple, both on the Acropolis. Possibly the

platform and steps in the South Passage of the Elliptical Temple were

used for a similar purpose, for this latter structure, though not built

into any angle of walls, is of exactly similar construction to the

others.

• • • • •

_Ancient walls at a distance from any main ruins are of a less

superior construction._—There is another class of building found in

walls erected at a distance from any main ruins, and these, though

constructed in a somewhat rougher form, are otherwise all built upon

the principles of the First Period of Zimbabwe architecture. These

walls can be clearly shown to have formed part of the original purpose,

plan, and construction as the main ruins, and prove that the original

ancient builders, while devoting their best skill to the temples and

residential portions of the building, were satisfied with a somewhat

inferior quality of workmanship for their more distant walls, and for

such of their outlying buildings as were used for some purpose, judging

by the finds, other than those of workshop or residence, most probably

as forts, workshops, stores for grain, or as the housing places of

slaves.

The close connection between the well-built walls of the main ruins

and these outlying walls and buildings is, in many instances, easy to

establish, and this may be shown as follows:—

1. The sole difference between the construction of the main ruins and

the outlying buildings lies in the quality of workmanship and material,

these outlying walls showing all other features of first-period

architecture to the exclusion of any feature of the second or later

periods of construction.

2. Connecting passages between the inner portions of main ruins and

the outlying buildings are well built in and near the main ruins, but

are excellently constructed as distance is reached, though the line of

foundations throughout, as also the cement flooring, are one and the

same.

3. Undoubted ancient floors are laid up to and against such walls.

4. Relics of prehistoric character, similar to those discovered within

any of the main ruins, have been found beyond main walls in connecting

passages and in the more distant ruins.

These evidences as to the early period during which some of the more

distant walls were erected are also found in other large ruins of

Southern Rhodesia, but at Zimbabwe, where the Acropolis affords such

a commanding view of the lines of walls of the outer ruins and of the

directions of recently unburied passages of great length, and of the

sweep of the walls connecting main ruins with outlying buildings, the

original purpose of many of the walls and minor ruins appears to be

very manifest.

In these outer walls the blocks are of far greater size, their shape

is frequently irregular, and unhewn stones are employed, but their

faces are even on either side and the internal parts are neatly filled

in with stones. All these walls have the usual Zimbabwe batter-back,

have rounded entrances, and the steps are not built in between the side

walls, but are formed by the courses of the foundations. Plumb walls

and angular entrances are very rarely met with.

• • • • •

_Cement._—The original builders of the Zimbabwe ruins, as well as

those of later ancient periods, can be seen to have shown a peculiar

partiality for the employment of cements for all constructive work save

that of building the walls, which are all, without exception, of dry

masonry. Evidently the ancients, judging by the immense quantity of

cement work throughout the ruins, much of which is still in splendid

condition, deliberately avoided the use of cement in the construction

of the walls. Probably in this respect, and in the employment of blocks

of a certain size, they were but following the methods of building to

which they were accustomed before their arrival in this country.

(1) The cement work of the oldest periods has been pronounced by

practical builders to have been made of crushed fragments of decomposed

granite mixed with a large proportion of lime, the latter being found

in Suku Glen (see _Suku Glen_) in extensive areas. This cement is

exceedingly hard, and has a glaze on the outer surface which, once

broken, has caused the internal body of cement to rapidly decompose

into yellow soil. Thus on the faces of steps, dadoes, and all

perpendicular work, the cement is more intact, while on flat surfaces

where rain-water could not be carried away owing to the stopping up of

drains the cement floors are in many instances considerably ruined.

Tree roots are rarely found to have penetrated any cement floor which

was in a whole condition, and where a root has so penetrated the

cement, the root, acting as a conductor of water, has caused all the

cement along the line of root to become decomposed. All the roots of

trees which have recently been removed from above cement floors are

flat, while some of them assume the shape of the structure that was

underneath. In one instance the roots of an immense fig tree, which was

thought to be over one hundred years old, had wound round and round a

circular cement platform which they had failed to penetrate.

This class of cement has been very extensively used by the older

occupiers for (_a_) flooring, (_b_) dadoes, (_c_) covering steps and

platforms, (_d_) construction of steps and platforms made entirely of

cement, (_e_) raised rims for dividing floors into separate catchment

areas, so confining rain-water over certain areas to particular drains,

(_f_) foundations of walls, (_g_) for short, low divisional walls made

entirely of cement.

(2) There is another class of granite cement which closely resembles

the first-mentioned, and this is found on the higher levels. It is

also yellow, but in it occur pieces of granite, and it has a decidedly

coarser appearance. This is not so lavishly laid, being only one or

two inches thick, whereas the former cement is most frequently found

to have a thickness of at least 6 in., that is, in those instances

where the structures are not entirely composed of this cement. A great

quantity of this cement work can be seen on the Acropolis or in the

Valley of Ruins.

(3) A further class of cement is of a dull reddish colour, containing

more soil than granite. Practically it is clay, but so fine and well

polished that it deserves the designation of cement. This work had been

burnt white, and its material is very strong and far superior to the

best clay used by the oldest native occupiers.

(4) A greyish-coloured cement, in which there are large proportions of

lime. This is found in ruins. On the summit of Rusivanga Kopje there

are floors and walls made of it. There is difference of opinion between

builders and native authorities as to the makers of this cement. It is

most certainly superior to any such material made by the natives of

to-day. It closely resembles, if it is not identical with, the material

used in building the two classes of huts Nos. 1 and 2 (see _Native huts

found in ruins_). The natives state it is not of any known Makalanga

make. It is found in large slabs, as if from the side walls of circular

huts, fully 14 ft. in diameter, also in bevelled ruins of all sizes.

This cement can be seen in some of the ruins, also on Zimbabwe Hill,

where the natives state there has been no occupation, excepting, of

course, Mogabe’s brief residence, for at least five generations.

Judging by the high-class quality of Kafir “finds” here, it is quite

possible that this cement is that of the mediæval Makalanga.

(5) The other descriptions of _daga_ (clay) vary in quality from

fairly good to most inferior. These are mere veld soil, without being

mixed with lime, and are seen in portions of distinctly old Kafir huts

resembling the types Nos. 2 and 3. It is also to be found in quantities

on the Bentberg and on Rusivanga Kopje. In many trenches can be seen

three or four layers of this _daga_ one above another, each layer being

about one inch thick, and there are layers of ashes between the floors.

• • • • •

_Ancients and caves and rock holes._—There are innumerable rock holes,

chasms, and large fissures among the cliffs and boulders of the

Acropolis Hill, but there is only one—the Balcony Cave—that actually

deserves the title of cave, though this name is bestowed upon them all

by several writers. Perhaps Balcony Cave approaches nearest to the

general conception of what is a cave. But the holes under beetling

boulders which constitute these “caves” are as a rule shallow, low, and

narrow.

There are no evidences in any of these holes, so far as they have been

examined, that the ancients cut into the rock or quarried to make or

improve these holes, the faces of the rock being all natural, and

devoid of any traces of their having been worked. Sir John Willoughby

makes a similar statement as to the rock never having been cut. It is

also noticeable that small spurs of formation rock jutting up through

the floors of enclosures have never been cut away. But the ancient

builders were very clever in artificially improving the fronts of the

rock holes, so as to add extra space to the size of the holes. This

was done in at least two instances, though there are traces of its

having been done elsewhere. A wall was built at some feet immediately

in front of the hole, and this was carried up so high that its summit

was connected with the cliff or boulder which rose above and arched

outwards in front of the hole. This is seen at South Cave, where a wall

was carried up to the over-arching boulder, thus more than doubling the

area of the cave (see descriptions of each cave).

There are a series of such rock holes on the north-east side of the

hill and on the south of Rock Holes Path. The covered holes between

the large boulders look very romantic, and their appearance suggests

the probability of there being large caves here, but the appearance is

most deceptive. The greatest number of such hollows are to be found at

the east end of the Acropolis Hill, and some few of these are worth

visiting, but the irregular and rugged contour of that face of the

hill makes climbing there a most difficult matter, besides which our

labourers have recently killed two tiger-cats at these holes, and they

state that there are more of such animals there.

Some few only of the caves near the main ruins of the Acropolis have

had cemented floors, the formation rock being in most instances

sufficiently smooth and level to make it unnecessary to lay cement

floors. Platform Cave has at least three levels of cement flooring one

above another.

The purposes for which these caves have been used cannot be determined,

for the finds made in them were very meagre and common, most being

Makalanga hoes, spearheads, brass wire bangles still containing hair or

grass, and fragments of pottery of poor and modern make. The only caves

which yielded anything of antique character were Platform and Balcony

Caves. In the former were sections of soapstone monoliths and fragments

of soapstone bowls. In the latter were about a dozen large slate beams

and plain soapstone beams. The soil in this cave has often been panned

by visitors, as there has always been an idea that gold dust was once

stored here. Almost all the pannings showed faint traces of gold, and

one or two rather richly. Theodore Bent, Sir John Willoughby, and also

many searchers for relics, have practically cleared the most important

of these caves of all finds.

A cave hole under an immense boulder on the south side of the Gold

Furnace Enclosure is about 15 ft. square, but one has to crouch low

down to move about in it. Here have been found quantities of quartz,

copper ore, and ironstone, pieces of beaten copper and copper wire,

sections of gold crucibles, and pottery whorls. No industry could

have been carried on in this low-roofed area, but gold-, copper-, and

iron-smelting were evidently conducted in the adjoining and higher Gold

Furnace Enclosure, and this hole or chasm, as Bent calls it, was used

for depositing the debris from such furnaces.

Nearly all the rock holes on Zimbabwe Hill had been used for some

purposes—up to four years ago by the Makalanga as burial-places, the

hill abounding in such graves. Now the local Makalanga are prohibited

burying on this hill, and at the same time their kraal was removed from

the Acropolis. The bodies were placed in the corners of these rock

holes and piled over with stones; the pot, assegais, knobkerries—and in

one instance a large bark-string hunting-net, 5 ft. high and about 30

yds. long—which belonged to the deceased, were laid upon the top of the

stones.

There are no Bushman paintings in any of these caves, nor on the

immense rocks which are strewn all over the hill. Nor does the district

round about possess any of these paintings. Almost every kopje within

a few miles of Zimbabwe has very recently been carefully examined for

walls, relics, caves, and paintings, several of the hills having been

within the last few months ascended several times from various points.

Natives, farmers, and prospectors state that these are altogether

absent from this portion of the Victoria district.

But caves and rock holes are very numerous on some of the kopjes which

are within an easy walk of the ruins, and if some of these were cleared

out some discoveries might possibly be made. It will be recalled that

both the ancient cylinder with rosettes, the wooden platter with the

signs of the zodiac, and the notorious pot “Fuko-ya-Nebandge” were all

found in caves at some little distance from Zimbabwe.

CHAPTER IX

THE ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

Main Walls—Plan—Construction—Measurements—Summit—Foundations—Chevron

Pattern—Ground Surface of Exterior.

_Plan of main wall._—Though popularly spoken of as the “Circular

Temple,”[46] the building is of elliptical plan, “a form of temple,”

says Bent, “found at Marib, the ancient capital of the Sabæan kingdom

in Arabia, and at the Castle of Nakab al Hajar, also in that country.”

The resemblance between the temple at Marib and the Elliptical Temple

at Zimbabwe is remarkable, and several scientists of repute, who have

considered the plans of both these ruins, emphasise the remarkable

resemblance, not only in the plan, but in the forms of worship

practised by the ancients, as evidenced also by the relics discovered

at both temples. For instance, Professor Müller, of Vienna, the great

South Arabian archæologist (_Burgen und Schlösser_, ii. 20.) compares

these two ruins as follows:—

_Marib._ _Zimbabwe._

Plan, system of curved walls, Practically the same.

geometrical building, orientation.

Inscription on Marib is in two rows, Two rows of chevron pattern run

and runs round a fourth of the round a fourth part of the

circumference. circumference.

Half of elliptical wall, on side of The same at Zimbabwe, where the

inscription, is well built and well pattern side of the wall is well

preserved, but opposite side is built. The other portion is rough.

badly built and ruined.

Temple was dedicated to the goddess Highly probable that Zimbabwe was

Almaquah—the star Venus, which is a Sabæan Almaquah temple, as it is

called in the Himyaritic tongue orientated and geometrically built

Ialmaquah, or Almaq = illuminating. for astronomical purposes, as in

all cases of such buildings used

for the worship of Almaquah.

Sacred birds found at Zimbabwe are

said to represent Venus the

“Morning Star.”[47]

Herr Brugsch believes the images of the birds found at Zimbabwe

emphasised a Sabæan occupation, while M. Naville is especially of

opinion that there exists a strong connection between Venus, the star

of the Sabæans, and the goddess worshipped at Zimbabwe. The evidences

pointing to the close connection of the South Arabian temples and

Zimbabwe are almost inexhaustible. On this point Bent and Schlichter

are at one with each other (see _Petermann’s Mitteilungen_ 1892; also

_The Gold of Ophir_ by Professor A. H. Keane; and M. Arnaud’s plan of

the temple at Marib).

Professor Müller also states that the elliptically formed wall appears

to have been always used in the temple buildings of ancient Arabia, and

states that at Sirwah the Almaquah temple is built in an oval form. In

these old temples, he says, sacred inscriptions to the deities were set

up on stylæ (stone beams). At Zimbabwe some scores of carved soapstone

beams have been discovered in the three temples, also ten birds perched

on tall soapstone beams and three other birds detached from their

beams, also four miniature birds on pedestals carved out of soapstone.

The Elliptical Temple at Zimbabwe is a much larger building than that

at Marib, having a circumference of about 833 ft. as against the 300

ft. of the Marib temple.

On entering the building it is at once seen that the most massive

and excellently constructed portions of the main wall extend

from slightly north of the North Entrance to the east and south and

south-west, and that the other portions, particularly the north-west

and west, are slighter, and though showing fairly good workmanship,

it is not nearly so well built as the other portion of the wall, the

average width of the summit of the poor wall being barely a third

of the average width of the better-built portion. The general line

of the summit is also fairly level, but it averages some 5 ft. to 8

ft. less in height than that of the northern and eastern walls. The

distinct character of the two portions of the main wall is very plainly

noticeable on viewing the temple from the summit of the Acropolis Hill.

[Illustration: THE ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE Great Zimbabwe

_Methuen & Co._]

But this temple does not stand alone in showing its main wall massive

and exceptionally well built at one point of its circumference and

slighter built on the other part. This feature is common to many ruins

in Rhodesia, excepting, of course, ruins of forts and those ruins

built upon the angular plan and terraced. Bent was fully aware of this

feature, and cites instances of its occurrence. Mr. Swan does the same,

and so does Schlichter. At some time or another before the north-west

and west wall was built that portion of the original wall had become

dilapidated, and the temple had become “half-moon,” “section of a

circle,” or “crescent” shaped, these being the terms applied by all

writers, without exception, to such of the circular ruins in the First

Period Ruins’ Area,[48] where portions of the main wall had fallen

down. The published plans of ruins demonstrate this fact. Probably

Zimbabwe will again become a “section of a circle,” for it stands to

reason that the weaker wall will be the first portion to disappear.

The massive and well-built portions of the ruins, built upon a system

of curves, almost always bear the mural pattern of the oldest types,

while the slighter portions are without pattern. It is so at Marib,

it is so at Zimbabwe, and it is so in some score of ruins built upon

the same principles, as shown in the Elliptical Temple. This has been

found to be so invariable a rule that on sighting a building of this

class of ruin even at some distance one can almost fix the position

of the pattern, that is, if the wall is not so reduced in height that

the decoration, if originally any, has not disappeared. Assuming no

principle of orientation to attach to such ruins, there yet remains

something to be done in explaining the directions of the massive curved

and decorated walls of the circular ruins, for the existence of so many

scores of parallelisms can hardly be explained away as being but so

many coincidences.

It has now (June, 1903) for the first time been shown by ocular

demonstration that the slighter wall, though ancient, is a

reconstruction of a still more ancient wall which curved outwards more

to the north and north-west. Recently some thirty tons of granite

blocks which lay in the gap on either side of it were removed, and the

foundations at this spot uncovered, showing the meeting in a mis-joint

at an oblique angle of two distinct walls, the foundations of the

massive north wall being 9 ft. 10 in. wide, and that of the later wall

6 ft. wide, while the class of building in the two walls is obviously

distinct. The face of the end of the north wall was extended further

outwards towards N.W. 40 ft., and the line of its foundation, according

to its curve, points in that direction, where, it is believed, the old

extended foundation has been come upon at 36 ft. outside the later

wall. The slighter wall approaches the massive wall from W. 80. The

bases of the foundations are practically on the same level.

Though the later wall is not so well constructed as the older wall, it

must not be taken as poorly built. (See “_Construction of main wall_,”

later.)

The wonderful feature is that no joint in the wall has so far been

discovered in its south-west portion. Practical builders who have

examined the wall on this side for such a joint are perplexed at

not being able to discover it, and some consider, from certain

circumstances noticeable, that it must have been at the West Entrances

where this later wall was commenced, in which case no such joint would

in all probability be found.

• • • • •

_Construction._—The construction of the main wall from the north to the

east, and round to the south and south-west, is admittedly by far the

finest specimen of ancient constructive work yet found in Rhodesia; it

has consequently been made the standard by which the best-known writers

and greatest authorities judge of the quality of the work shown in

other walls in the country. Certainly two large and important ruins in

the Lower Sabi Valley, which are much larger in area but with lower

walls than Zimbabwe, closely rival the Great Zimbabwe in construction

and boldness of design. But with regard to the more massive and highest

portion of the main wall every practical builder who visits Zimbabwe

is amazed at the equal distribution of the joints, the conscientious

bonding of the outer courses, the good quality of stone selected, the

careful dressing and the regularity of the sizes of the blocks, the

neat packing throughout the whole width of the wall, and the tiling of

the summits of the wall with “throughs.” The filling-in of the wall

has been most conscientiously executed, and is seen to have been done

course by course with the faces of the wall, as the courses throughout

are pronounced to correspond with the outer courses of the wall on

either side, and some builders have positively stated that some sort

of a levelling instrument must have been used. “Straight joints” for

more than two or three courses are absent, and these are rare, “false

courses” are also rare, and there is little seen of chips levelling up

the corners of the blocks.

The marvellous symmetry of the batter-back of the dry masonry,

especially in the boldly conceived and most excellently constructed

sweep of the wall on its inner face from north to north-east and

south-west, secures the admiration of every visitor, and forms one

of the chief features by which the Great Zimbabwe stamps itself on

one’s memory. The scrupulously careful workmanship displayed here, and

particularly in the courses near the Chevron Pattern and on the outer

face of the north-east portion of the wall, show undoubtedly the most

superior of any ancient building yet discovered in Rhodesia, if not

also of the important ruins lying at some distance, to the south-east,

of which only sketch-plans and a few photographs are yet to hand. The

massive solidity and excellent construction, together with its batter

(see _Architecture_, section “Battering of Walls”), which this wall

displays, have, no doubt, secured its wonderful preservation in spite

of earthquake, effects of tree and creeper growth, and the ravages of

some millenniums of time.

The construction demonstrates the fact that the ancients in their own

home in the north were thoroughly well-practised in the building with

either stone blocks or bricks. Moreover, as suggested by Bent and

Schlichter, the extensive use of granite cement in making floors both

inside and outside the ruins at Zimbabwe proves that it was by design

that the ancients adopted the system of building with dry masonry.

Concerning the construction of the north-west and west portions of

the main wall there has been much controversy, Bent and Schlichter

being emphatic in stating that not only was it most inferior to that

of the other portions of the main wall, but that it was obviously

of later construction on contracted lines, but still ancient. These

two archæologists could have arrived at this conclusion only by the

measurement of the wall and by its quality of workmanship. Sir John

Willoughby, on the other hand, contended that it is built as well as

any other portion of the main wall. It is certainly not poor building

that renders it less easy to climb along its summit, the difficulty

being the number of loose stones which line the top owing to the

summit having been threshed by branches of large trees.

[Illustration: SOUTH-EAST WALL, WITH CHEVRON PATTERN, OF ELLIPTICAL

TEMPLE, ZIMBABWE]

This wall—now recently shown to be a reconstruction in a later ancient

period[49]—is in every point better built than many walls on the

Acropolis, and is superior in workmanship to many of the divisional

walls of the Elliptical Temple. The outer face is fairly well

constructed.

• • • • •

_Measurements of main wall._—The circumference of the outer face of the

main wall taken at the level of the threshold of the entrances measures

about 831 ft. As the foundations throughout the circumference are, as

is shown later, some 3 ft. to 5 ft. below this level, and as the usual

Zimbabwe batter-back prevails, the circumference of the foundations of

this building may safely be estimated at a further 40 ft., which would

make a total circumference of the base of the temple some 873 ft.

The circumference of the inside face of the entire main wall measured

at a corresponding level is about 776 ft. 6 in., the foundations, as

shown later, being from 3 ft. to 5 ft. below the level at which this

measurement was taken.

Granite slabs with painted figures now mark the distances both outside

and inside round the main wall, commencing in either case at the south

side of the West Entrance and going south. The distances on the outside

are marked at every 50 ft., and those on the inside at every 20 ft. A

small black spot is painted on the wall just above each slab to denote

the exact spot in each length measured.

In this description of the Elliptical Temple all measurements in

angular brackets are exterior measurements of the main wall only, and

those in rounded brackets are those of interior measurements of the

main wall, all commencing at the south side of the West Entrance and

going south. For instance, “The North-West Entrance is situated between

the following points in the main wall—[656 ft.] and [660 ft.] and (606

ft. 6 in.) and (611 ft.),” or “A large granite beam lies at the base of

the main wall at (338 ft.).”

MEASUREMENTS OF EXTERIOR OF MAIN WALL COMMENCING AT SOUTH SIDE OF THE

WEST ENTRANCE AND GOING SOUTH

Position Point Height above Height above Width of Batter-back

of wall. of cleared bottom of present of face of

compass surface. foundation. summit. wall.

faced.

[0 ft.] W. 7 ft. 6 in. 11 ft. 6 ft. 6 in. 8 in.

Between [0 ft.] and [10 ft.] summit of wall rises from 7 ft. to

22 ft.

[10 ft.] — 22 ft. 23 ft. 10 in. 4 ft. 2 in. 2 ft.

[25 ft.] — 21 ft. 6 in. 23 ft. 6 in. 5 ft. 6 in. 2 ft.

[50 ft.] — 22 ft. 24 ft. 6 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. 6 in.

Between [98 ft.] and [104 ft.] are traces of a wall of this width

running towards S.W.

[100 ft.] S.W. 22 ft. 24 ft. 6 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. 6 in.

[150 ft.] S.S.W. 22 ft. 6 in. 24 ft. 6 in. 6 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. 6 in.

Between [161 ft.] and [166 ft. 6 in.] are traces only of wall of

this width protruding from main wall towards S.W.

Chevron Pattern commences at [189 ft.] and extends to [455 ft.

6 in.].

[200 ft.] S. 22 ft. 8 in. 25 ft. 2 in. 10 ft. 2 in. 1 ft. 10 in.

[250 ft.] S.E. 25 ft. 26 ft. 6 in. 8 ft. 2 in. 2 ft. 6 in.

[300 ft.] S.E. 29 ft. 30 ft. 6 in. 8 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 8 in.

[350 ft.] E. 29 ft. 31 ft. 6 in. 9 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 4 in.

At [380 ft.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.

[400 ft.] E. 30 ft. 31 ft. 9 in. 7 ft. 4 in. 2 ft. 6 in.

At [425 ft. 9 in.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.

[450 ft.] E.N.E. 32 ft. 34 ft. 9 ft. 6 in. 3 ft.

From [450 ft.] to [565 ft.] is Outer Parallel Passage.

Chevron Pattern ends at [455 ft. 6 in.].

At [482 ft.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.

[500 ft.] N.E. 33 ft. 35 ft. 6 in. 12 ft. 2 in. 3 ft. 6 in.

At [510 ft. 6 in.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.

At [530 ft.] line of summit falls to 28 ft.

[550 ft.] N.E. 19 ft. 21 ft. 13 ft. 4 in. 1 ft. 4 in.

Summit of wall very considerably dilapidated.

At [560 ft.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.

At [571 ft. 6 in.] to [576 ft. 6 in.] steps of North Entrance.

[575 ft.] N.E. 11 ft. (not examined) 14 ft. 2 ft. 6 in.

West side of North Entrance, 11 ft. high, rises to 17 ft. at

[580 ft.].

Between [586 ft.] to [590 ft.] wall this width, forming

north-west side of North-East Passage, protrudes from main

wall towards N.E.

From [610 ft.] to [620 ft.] is gap in main wall and mis-joint of

earlier and later walls.

[625 ft.] N. 16 ft. 6 in. 19 ft. 5 ft. 1 ft.

Original height of wall reduced to 16 ft. 6 in. on west side of

gap.

[656 ft.] N.N.W. 17 ft. 19 ft. 3 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 10 in.

(ruined)

East side of North-West Entrance.

[660 ft.] N.N.W. 17 ft. 19 ft. 5 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 10 in.

West side of North-West Entrance.

[675 ft.] N.W. 17 ft. 18 ft. 6 in. 5 ft. 2 in. 1 ft. 10 in.

Face of wall bulges outwards above foundations.

[700 ft.] N.W. 18 ft. 19 ft. 10 in. 4 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 6 in.

For several feet on either side of [700 ft.] summit of wall is

considerably depressed by tree boughs hitting it.

A wall connecting No. 1 Ruin with Elliptical Temple protrudes

from main wall between [705 ft.] and [710 ft.].

[750 ft.] W.N.W. 21 ft. 23 ft. 4 ft. 8 in. 2 ft. 6 in.

[800 ft.] W.N.W. 20 ft. 6 in. 22 ft. 4 in. 4 ft. 10 in. 3 ft.

From [814 ft.] to [829 ft.] the line of summit breaks downwards

abruptly from 20 ft. to 8 ft. in height.

[827 ft. 9 in.] W. 8 ft. (not examined) 6 ft. 10 in.

This is the north side of West Entrance.

[831 ft. 9 in.] This is the south side of the West Entrance, where the

first measurement started.

MEASUREMENTS OF INTERIOR FACE OF MAIN WALL COMMENCING AT SOUTH SIDE

OF THE WEST ENTRANCE AND GOING SOUTH

Position Side of Height above Batter-back of Point in interior

of wall. temple. cleared surface. face of wall. of temple.

(0 ft.) W.N.W. 7 ft. 6 in. 8 in. No. 5 Enclosure

Between (0 ft.) and (10 ft.) is a large rounded buttress

projecting into the temple. (See description of West

Entrance.)

Between (0 ft.) and (10 ft.) summit rises sharply from 7 ft.

6 in. to 18 ft. 6 in., measurement from present surface of

interior soil.

(10 ft.) W.N.W. 18 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. No. 5 Enclosure

(20 ft.) W.N.W. 21 ft. 1 ft. 10 in. 〃

Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now

decomposed.

(40 ft.) W.N.W. 21 ft. 1 ft. 8 in. No. 5 Enclosure

Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now

decomposed.

(60 ft.) W. 21 ft. 4 in. 1 ft. 6 in. No. 5 Enclosure

Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now

decomposed.

(80 ft.) W. 21 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 2 in. No. 5 Enclosure

Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now

decomposed.

(100 ft.) W. 18 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 9 in. No. 6 Enclosure

Measured from top of débris on summit of low divisional wall.

(120 ft.) S.W. 20 ft. 10 in. 2 ft. 1 in. No. 6 Enclosure

Measured from red clay floor, believed to be of Makalanga

construction.

At (134 ft.) to (138 ft.) are traces only of a divisional wall.

(140 ft.) S.W. 21 ft. 8 in. 2 ft. 2 in. No. 6 Enclosure

Measured from a yellow granite cement floor.

(160 ft.) S.W. 22 ft. 4 in. 2 ft. 2 in. No. 6 Enclosure

Measured from a yellow granite cement floor.

(179 ft. 3 in.)

Angle of walls.

(180 ft.) S.W. 21 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. No. 6 Enclosure

Measured from a yellow granite cement floor.

At (180 ft.) step-down of foundation of 5 ft.

(200 ft.) S.S.W. 17 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 2 in. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from summit of old excavated débris, Sacred Enclosure

5 ft. high (since removed). (west)

(220 ft.) S.S.W. 22 ft. 1 ft. 6 in. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from summit of old excavated débris, Sacred Enclosure

5 ft. high. (west)

(240 ft.) S. 23 ft. 6 in. 3 ft. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from summit of old excavated débris, Sacred Enclosure

5 ft. high. (west)

The large Conical Tower stands between (246 ft.)

to (264 ft.).

(260 ft.) S. 26 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. 10 in. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from yellow granite cement floor. Sacred Enclosure

(east)

(280 ft.) S. 26 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. 4 in. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from yellow granite cement floor. Sacred Enclosure

(east)

The roughly built buttress at (286 ft.) to (303 ft.)

is not ancient.

(300 ft.) S. 28 ft. 2 ft. 6 in. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from yellow cement floor. Sacred Enclosure

(east)

There are doubts as to the antiquity of buttress

at (306 ft.) to (319 ft.).

(320 ft.) S.S.E. 29 ft. 2 ft. 4 in. No. 8 Enclosure

Measured from yellow granite cement floor. Sacred Enclosure

(east). At West

Granite monolith (conjected) fallen from wall at Entrance to

(340 ft.). Parallel Passage.

Drain-hole through wall at (352 ft.).

(340 ft.) S.S.E. 28 ft. 10 in. 2 ft. 2 in. Parallel Passage

Measured from cement floor.

At (352 ft.) is a drain-hole.

(360 ft.) S.S.E. 30 ft. 6 in. 2 ft. 2 in. Parallel Passage

Measured from cement floor.

(380 ft.) S.E. 30 ft. 4 in. 3 ft. Parallel Passage

Measured from cement floor.

Drain-hole at (391 ft. 6 in.).

(400 ft.) S.E. 29 ft. 3 ft. 2 in. Parallel Passage

Measured from cement floor.

(420 ft.) E.S.E. 30 ft. 4 in. 3 ft. 2 in. Parallel Passage

Measured from cement floor.

(440 ft.) E.S.E. 30 ft. 6 in. 4 ft. Parallel Passage

Measured from cement floor.

Drain-hole at (442 ft.).

(460 ft.) E. 31 ft. 3 ft. 6 in. Parallel Passage

Measured from soil surface.

Drain-hole at (471 ft.).

(480 ft.) E. 31 ft. 2 ft. 4 in. Parallel Passage

Measured from soil surface.

(500 ft.) N.E. 27 ft. 2 ft. 10 in. Parallel Passage

The summit of the wall is much dilapidated. Between (500 ft.)

and (520 ft.) the wall is broken, there being a large gap of

this width, the bottom of which is 14 ft. above present level

of floor.

(520 ft.) N.E. 13 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 6 in. Parallel Passage

Between (520 ft.) and (530 ft.) is the North Entrance. Wall on

east side 6 ft. high, on west side 6 ft. 6 in. high, but on

each side rises sharply within a few feet of the entrance.

From (536 ft.) to (544 ft.) are remains of small banquette

below summit, and at 6 ft. above ground.

(540 ft.) N.N.E. 18 ft. 1 ft. 8 in. No. 2 Enclosure

Drain-hole at (549 ft.).

(560 ft.) N.N.E. 12 ft. 2 ft. No. 2 Enclosure

Centre of line of summit is 3 ft. higher than reduced inside

edge.

Between (566 ft.) and (570 ft.) is the mis-joint in earlier and

later walls.

(580 ft.) N. 3 ft. — No. 2 Enclosure

At (580 ft.) the wall on west side of gap rises abruptly.

(600 ft.) N. 18 ft. 1 ft. 10 in. No. 3 Enclosure

Measured from an old cement floor.

Between (606 ft. 6 in.) and (611 ft. 6 in.) is the North-West

Entrance.

(620 ft.) N.W. 6 ft. 10 in. No. 3 Enclosure

At (614 ft.) this wall rises perpendicularly to 16 ft.

(640 ft.) N.N.W. 16 ft. 6 in. 1 ft. 6 in. No. 3 Enclosure