Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia: An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of RhodesiaHall, R. N. (Richard Nicklin)
History
Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia: An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of Rhodesia
Hall, R. N. (Richard Nicklin)
Great Zimbabwe (Extinct city); Zimbabwe -- Antiquities
_Chibfuko._—This hill adjoins the Mowishawasha Hill, which is about
seven miles west-south-west of Zimbabwe. _Washa_ is always associated
in the mind of the natives with power and authority. Chibfuko is never
ascended by the natives. Either the hill itself, or something on it,
causes them to revere or dread it. They never pass by without kneeling
and clapping hands to it. It is said that they hear girls singing on
its summit. The hill has a few caves highly suggestive in appearance of
ancients and hidden relics. In this district valuable relics taken from
the ruins have been discovered. Mr. Drew, Native Commissioner, is of
opinion that many generations past some powerful Makalanga chief must
have been buried on the hill and that this originated the native awe
for the place, but the natives will not divulge the reason. To reach
the hill Bingura’s path must be taken.
_Chipadzi’s kraal._—This kraal is three miles south from Zimbabwe, and
it may be visited on the same round as Suku Glen, Lumbo Rocks, and
Morgenster. The walk is an interesting one, but there is nothing of
note in the kraal itself, save the view of the Mapudzi Valley which
it overlooks. The Morgenster path must be taken for 1,000 yds. south
of the temple, where a well-defined native path branches off to the
south-east. Later the path descends into a long, narrow valley till
it approaches the kraal. The scenery in this valley is very fine. A
small perennial stream, which at one point disappears under the ground
for a quarter of a mile, flows down the valley, and on either side
of it are palm trees and tree-ferns, each with a trunk some 3 to 8
ft. in height, also large areas covered with the royal fern (_Osmunda
regalis_). Mahobohobo trees are plentiful, and orchids are abundant on
the branches of the larger trees. The kraal comprises about a score
of huts. There is a very grand view towards the east of the Mapudzi
Valley down which flows the Mapudzi, a stream which has its rise on
the east side of the Elliptical Temple. The ravine is at least 200
ft. immediately below the kraal which overlooks it. The two large and
prominent kopjes on the south are Moroma, the nearer one, and Rugutsi.
Morgenster is one mile west on the summit of the high land on that side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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