Great Zimbabwe. 5 1 1 



than 2 feet from the surface. But being on lower ground, with a high 

 hank of soil and granite on the south-\ve.stem flank, a considerable 

 amount of soil has silted from the exterior into some of the en- 

 closures. The fiUing-in, both natural and artificial, was no more 

 than 2 feet, as against 6 feet to- 12 feet in ruins where there are 

 abundant signs of extensive native occupations. 



PHILIPS RLIXS. 



The.se ruins lie to the east of the Posselt Ruins and west of 

 tile Maund Ruins, and form the centre ruin of the three ruins, which 

 are built upon a line extending from east tO' west. Philips Ruins 

 are 8 vards nnlv from Posselt Ruins and 60 yards from Maund 

 Ruins. 



These ruins i)resent .several most interesting features, which 

 may be described as follows : — 



{a) The disco'ven,' in March. 1903, of the finest, most perfect, 

 and most elaborately decorated soapstone beam, with bird on sum- 

 mit, yet found at Great Zimbabwe, also phalli. 



(b) An excellently constructed and massive wall, built upon the 

 plan of a section of a circle, with the centre of its outer face towards 

 due east, and the discovery of quantities of sections of worked soap- 

 stone beams along its base, which beams are believed to have once 

 decorated the summit of the wall, and also the oldest tvpe of relics. 

 with gold. 



(c) A small conical tower of almost identical measurements to 

 those of the conical tower in the adjoining Posselt Ruins. 



{d) Excellent and massive character of the construction of the 

 walls, and the numerous rounded entrances, buttresses, and ends of 

 walls. Two drains through walls 5 feet wide, a tall slate beam as 

 entrance lintel, with sections of slate beams similarlv emploved bv 

 the original builders. 



{e) The almost complete absence, except at two spots, of evi- 

 dences of native occupation. 



Area. — The area occupied by these ruins is, as at present ascer- 

 tained. 140 feet from east to west and 150 feet from north to south. 

 There is no main outer wall on the south side, and it is probable, 

 judgdng by wall debris, that these ruins extended some 20 vards fur- 

 ther south. 



Main Walls. — These extend from the west side, round the 

 north to the south-east, the rest having disappeared, or possiblv 

 Posselt Ruins and these ruins were originally one immense ruin, 

 when any outer wall on the .south-west side would not have been 

 required. But this could not have been the case as to a south side 

 of the ruin, which is perfectly open from east to west. 



The main outer walls average in width 5 feet tO' 7 feet on the 

 floor level and 5 feet at 6 feet from the floor. In height they range 

 from 6 feet to 14 feet on the outside and about 2 feet less on the 

 inside level, and this is accounted for by the slope of the area upon 



