The Graphic, 27 February 1892, pp. 267 ff.
The most conspicuous object in the lower ruins of the great Zimbabwe in Mashonaland, that is to say, the great circular temple, is the tower 32 ft. in height, akin in structure to the towers worshipped anciently by the Semitic races of Arabia and Syria, and representing a form of religious symbolism. It is strongly guarded by an intricate approach and protecting walls on either side. A few course from the top runs a pattern which corresponds in its extent to the length of the sacred enclosure of which the tower is the central object. Before the tower is a raised platform of cement supported on loose stones, where presumably the priests officiated.
A consecutive line of ruins leads from the circular temple to the foot of a rocky hill, 400 ft. high, on which is the fortress, approached by a wonderful passage defended at every turn by traverses and buttresses. About half way up the constructors have availed themselves of a narrow gulley between granite boulders, up which the steps led to the walls and parapet above.
It is impossible in words to give any adequate idea of the labyrinthine nature of this fortress. Thick walls, 30 ft. high and 13 ft. broad, surmount a precipice itself 70 ft. to 90 ft. in height. Every available hole through which an arrow could pass has been walled up, proving that the occupants lived like a garrison in heart of the enemy’s country, a gold producing race who on this rocky height crushed and smelted their gold, as the discovery of many crucibles, with gold in them, a furnace, and other instruments for producing gold testified.
In a temple to the southern end of this fortress most of the interesting finds were made. It was decorated originally with birds on the top of long pedestals of soapstone arranged on the outer wall; in an adjoining compartment many fragments of decorated and plain soapstone bowls were found, doubtless used for temple service and afterwards cast out here. The geometric patterns on these are always executed, as on the pottery, with great accuracy, but the representations of figures are of inferior art and slightly grotesque.
In some caves just below this point most of the gold producing instrument were found, and also a large number of weapons of all shapes and all ages, for Kaffir races up to a recent date have inhabited the ruins, and done their best to obliterate all traces of the past; the barbed copper spear-head is not in use in this part of the county, nor are the iron bells which are found on the Congo hundreds of miles away. The heavily gilt spear-head must, however, be taken to belong to a period anterior to Kaffir occupation, being an art only known in antiquity to the more highly civilised races.