512 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



which these ruins stand aiid the silting in of soil. Some of the 

 greatly reduced summits are 5 feet wide. The heights of the original 

 walls are estimated tO' have been 20 feet. 



Construct ion. — -These are very well-built ruins. s(Miie portions, 

 especially the massive wall which curves outward towards due east ; 

 the workmanship is most excellent, the blocks have been carefully 

 selected for size, and the granite is good and even in quality. Ex- 

 cept for one small and poorly-built buttress, the angular features of 

 construction are entirely absent. The fine workmanship in the con- 

 struction^ of the curved wall suggests that some special imiwrtance 

 was attached tO' this structure. 



The divisional walls are alsoi well built, and are more massi\e 

 than several outer walls of certain main walls at Zimbabwe. 



Curved Wall. — This wall forms the most prominent feature in 

 these ruins, and it at once attracts the first attention of all visitors 

 on account of its symmetrical and massive character and the height 

 of its present reduced summit, which is 14 feet at its summit, and 

 which is 5 feet wide at that height. This is the highest wall in these 

 ruins. The curve is laid on so exact a plan that it was an easy mat- 

 ter for a Government .surveyor to definitely determine the centre of 

 the arc. The centre of the curv'e faces outwards due east, and 

 standing at the centre of the arc the extremities of the wall, which 

 are rounded, are found to be N.N.E. and S.S.W. respectively. It is 

 125 feet round its inner face at 6 feet above the remains of cement 

 flooring and 84 feet round its outer face at the same height from 

 the ground, but the rest of its outer length are hidden behind large 

 rounded wails and buttresses. The distance between the two- ex- 

 tremities across the bow is 75 feet, and from this line to the centre 

 of the curve is 23 feet. The batter back of the wall is i foot in 10 

 feet. 



The height of the reduced summit for 60 feet from its north end 

 averages 9 feet to 13 feet on either side of the wall, but these heights 

 are taken from raised granite cement platforms, steps, and floors, 

 and at present another 3 feet can be added to the reduced summit 

 of this wall. The foundation of this wall is 3 feet below the entrance 

 floor. 



The original height may safely be estimated at jo feet above 

 the ceil 't flooring. This estimate is justified by the great amount 

 of wall-dei.ris found at the base of the wall on either face. On the 

 summit at the south end of the wall are the remains of a banquette, 

 and these inner terraces or look-outs, almost invariably in all ruins 

 in Rhodesia which have banquette work, are the inner portions of 

 half the width of the summit, the front half being carried up breast 

 high above the banquette floor. Further, the amount of batter-work 

 in the faces of the wall would well permit of a wall 20 feet high, and 

 yet leave a fairly wide summit. Where the entrance facing the 

 E.N.E. passes through the wall the side walls are reduced to 5 feet 

 in height on either side above the floor of the entrance, which is just 

 3 feet above the foundation of the wall. This entrance, like those 

 in the main walls of the Elliptical Temple, is carried over the 



