5. BRASS ARTICLES
So far as investigations lead, no relics of brass have been found on the lower floors of any of the ruins at Zimbabwe. But on the upper clay floors brass in several forms is found in abundance. It will be remembered that in 1514 Duarte Barbosa wrote, “The people of Monomotapa come to Sofala charged with gold, and give such quantities that the merchants gain one hundred for one.” This was written soon after the first arrival of the Portuguese at Sofala, and given in a description of Arab trade on the coast, which they found to be flourishing. But before that period the Arab barter article for the gold was mainly brass, though “coloured stuffs and beads of Cambay” were also used for the purpose of barter, for the Arab trade with this country dated back long before the arrival of the Portuguese. The Arab writer, Omar ibn l’Wardi, stated (circa 1200 a.d.), in alluding to South-East Africa, “The most remarkable produce of this country is its quantity of native gold ... in spite of which the natives adorn their persons with ornaments of brass.” So to-day a native will gladly pay an enormous amount over the cost price for any attractive-looking but shoddy brass article. The brass ornaments of women weigh from 1½ lbs. to 3 lbs., while the men spend hours in polishing and rearranging their brass bangles. Therefore it is not surprising that brass wire, brass wire bangles, and solid brass bangles, should be found on the clay floors of the ruins. The quantity imported as barter goods for gold must have been simply enormous, especially in view of the prevailing custom of these people from time immemorial to bury with their dead all their personal ornaments.
There is one class of brass bangle that deserves some attention, and this is found in positions suggesting a greater age than any other finds of brass articles. This is a twisted wire bangle, but the wire is flat and exceedingly narrow. In many of these the hair or fibre round which it was coiled has disappeared with time. Coils of this make of wire-work ready to be cut into lengths for bangles were found in Renders Ruins. This and some coils of very fine rounded wire-work were discovered in a fused condition. Brass beads both imported and of native make are plentiful.