cclvi 



trading and exploring company up into the regions of the Lim- 

 popo and Zambeze Rivers, and into the Blueberg Mountains. 

 His progress was checked by the ravages of the tsetze fly, which 

 is so fatal to horses and cattle, and he remained for several days in 

 an almost circular valley of considerable extent at the foot of the 

 Blueberg Mountains. He noticed a ridge of rock that had the 

 appearance of a wall or fortification, and seemed to almost encom- 

 pass the valley, and, on inquiry among the Kafirs, he learned that 

 it was the remains of an aqueduct that had some time or other 

 supplied an extensive city with water. The wall in some cases 

 crossed crevices or depressions, and then, instead of continuing as 

 a solid wall, it was continued by a row of pillars, on the top of 

 which rested the aqueduct. As viewed from a distance, the work- 

 manship was excellent. He saw nothing resembling the arch in 

 any of these constructions. He was unable to visit the ruins of 

 the city as a war was waging between the native tribes. With 

 his glass, however, he could make out a watch-tower of very old 

 style, built of stone, with elevated lookouts provided with loop- 

 holes. He found large quantities of glazed tiles, evidently of 

 ancient manufacture, some of bright vermillion and some of blue 

 color. He also saw very large mounds, evidently artificial. During 

 the few days he remained, many interesting relics were brought 

 to the camp by natives living near the ruins of the old city. One 

 native brought a lot of sweet potatoes in an old bronze helmet ; 

 another person brought a very old double-edged sword, of Byzan- 

 tine style ; a piece of breast-plate was also secured. Numerous 

 circumstances went to show that a superior race of people had, 

 many hundred years ago, occupied that valley. Among other 

 things, he got a very small article resembling a "castle" or "rook" 

 in chess, which was made of copper, silver and bronze, and 

 which, had evidently been subjected to great heat. The people 

 or tribes who had lived there for many generations could give no 

 account of the people who left these relics, but all admitted that 

 they must have been a very superior race. About the same time, 

 Mauch discovered relics evidently of the same race of people at 

 Zimbava. A rite similar to circumcision is practised among 

 the Kafirs, and the youths are generally taken in numbers to 

 some valley in the mountains to have it performed, while at the 

 entrance to the valley a rock-snake {Python) is suspended on a 



