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)
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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
To-day these Makalanga, who are essentially an agricultural race, have
covered the erstwhile devastated country with their plantations, and
converted these parts into the “Granary of Rhodesia,” and the leading
grain-producing district of this part of Mashonaland. Standing on
Zimbabwe Hill either at sunrise or sunset, one sees scattered over the
open country scores of columns of smoke rising from the villages, each
with its large area where the Makalanga work in absolute security,
and one is forced to realise that untold benefit has undoubtedly been
conferred upon the natives by the British occupation.
The Makalanga of Zimbabwe district are considered to be, in
intellectual and physical qualifications, above many of their tribes
elsewhere. In some respects they are marvellously intelligent and quick
to perceive, shrewd, calculating, and clever, while in others they are
astonishingly dull, so that it is almost impossible to get them to
understand the simplest matter. They certainly evince far more feeling
and sensitiveness, are more amenable to direction, and readier and more
anxious to work, and are more honest and reliable than the average
Matabele. Physically, they are as a whole somewhat shorter in height,
are less robust, and have not the weight and strength of the Matabele,
but their vigour and agility give them the greater advantage. Yet there
are very many Makalanga in this district equal to any Matabele in
height, strength, form, and endurance.
More than the French nation among Europeans, the Makalanga are
distinguished for their taste, tact, and courtesy among the Kafir races
of South-East Africa, only in their case the graceful movement, kingly
walk, politeness, neatness, rhythm of speech, and poetic expression,
are not the outcome of study, but are perfectly natural qualities bred
in the race.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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