Great Zimbabwe. 509 



the summits in many cases having disappeared, the batter-back, as 

 ascertained l)V pKmib lines, has consequently been considerably 

 reduced. 



Where the original summits are still practically intact and where 

 there have been no bulgingsK)ut 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 growth, the i foot in 6 feet is 

 frequently approached — for instance, south wall. Western Temple, 

 4 feet 8 inches in 31 feet; Pattern Passage. 2 feet in 13 feet. In 

 low walls I foot in 6 feet is very frequently reached. 



The main walls of the Elliptical Temple, as shewn in a Table 

 of Battering, is much less than i foot in 6 feet, a fair average being 

 T fo<^)t in II feet. The extent at some points is i foot in 15 feet. 



THE "VALLEV OF RLTXS." 



The " ^'alle\ of Ruins "" is on the north and north-east sides of 

 the Elliptical Temple, and is almost half-way between it and the 

 south end of the Acropolis Hill This conglomeration of ruins ex- 

 tends along the slope on the north-east side of both the Elliptical 

 Temple and Xo. i Ruins uv within sixty yards of the East Ruins, 

 and covers an area of al:)Out 250 yards from east to west and 220 

 yards from north to south. This area is the upi:)er iTortion of the 

 Ziml)abwe valley, which descends towards the east, the streams from 

 this valley during the rainy season falling into INlapudzi, which nms 

 southwards down the Schlichter Gorge towards the Mowashawasha 

 Valley, and later finds its way into the M'Telekwe River. 



Previously to 1902-3 these ver\- extensive ruins, .some of which 

 are massive and most excellently constructed, remained not only 

 unexplored, but unexamined, and no particulars or plan had ever 

 been attempted tO' be given, all writers being content to refer to 

 them as the " Valley of Ruins." while some writers altogether ignore 

 the existence of this group of ruins. 



Since the Occupation no^ attention has been paid to these ruins. 

 Xo visitors", or even native paths crossed the area, nor are there the 

 slightest traces in the shape of trenches of any prospecting for relics 

 and gold having been carried on at these rtiins. So unfrequented 

 has it been that some fair-sized buck have been shot within the area 

 of the " Valley of Ruins." The space covered by these ruins was 

 found to be an imj^enetrable jungle of trees, bushes, and creepers. 

 The local natives declared the i>lace to be bewitched, and they con- 

 sequently avoided it. 



The " Valley of Ruins " has recently been found to consist oi 

 three groups, each of which includes several distinct ruins, several 

 of an imiM)rtant character. 



The area is divided as follows : — 



(i) Lower or Xorth-eastern Section, including the Posselt 

 Philips, and Maund Ruins. 



