EXTENT 0? THE GOLD-REGION 
415 
Farther west lay th^ now unknown kingdom of Abutua, 
which was formerly famous for tho metal ; and then, coming 
round toward tho cast, wo have tho gold-washings of tho 
Mashona, or Bazizulu, and, farther east, that of Manica, 
whoro gold is found much more abundantly than in any 
other part, and which has been supposed by somo to bo tho 
Ophir of King Solomon. I saw tho gold from this quartoi 
as largo as grains of wheat, that found in tho rivors which 
run into tho coal-field being in very minute scales. If wo 
placo one leg of tho compasses at Tcto, and extend tho 
other three and a half degrees, bringing it round from tho 
northeast of Tote by west, and then to tho southeast, wo 
nearly touch or includo all tho known gold-producing coun- 
try. As tho gold on this circumforonco is found in coarsor 
grains than in tho streams running toward tho centre or 
Toto, I imagine that tho real gold-field lies round about tho 
coal-field; and, if I am right in tho conjecture, then wo 
have coal encircled by a gold-fiold, and abundanco of wood, 
water, and provisions, — a combination not often met with 
in tho world. The inhabitants are not unfavorable to 
'/askings conducted on tho principle formerly mentioned. 
At present they wash only whon in want of a little calico. 
They know tho value of gold perfectly well; for they 
bring it for sale in goose-quills, and demand twonty-foui 
yards of calico l'or ono penful. 
Major Sicard, tho commandant, whoso kindness to mo 
and my people was unbounded, presented a rosary mado 
of tho gold of tho country, tho workmanship of a nativo 
of Toto, to my little daughter, — also specimens of tho gold- 
dust of three different places, which, with tho coal of 
Muatizo and Morongozo, are doposited in tho Museum ol 
Practical Geology, Jormyn Street, London. 
All tho cultivation is carried on with hoes in tho native 
manner, and considerable quantities of Holcus sorghum, 
maizo, Pennisetum typho'ideum, or lotsa of tho Balonda, 
millet, rico, and wheat aro raised, as also several kinds ol 
beans, — ono of wh eh, called “ litloo” by tho Bochuanaa. 
