On passing through the main entrance from the south, one enters a passage which runs parallel with the north side of the main wall for 17 ft. towards the west, and then curves sharply towards the east-north-east for 19 ft. At its two extremities the passage is from 3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. wide, but at the curve at the end of the first length of 17 ft. it is 6 ft. wide. The western wall of this passage is 19 ft. long, 5 ft. wide at base, and 3 ft. 6 in. on the highest portion of the summit, this being at the south end, where the wall is 8 ft. high. This wall is rounded at its northern extremity, and forms the divisional wall between the passage and the eastern enclosure. Neither the eastern nor the western enclosures can at present be defined on their northern sides, though lines of block débris would appear to fix their boundaries.
The most interesting architectural feature in the “Outspan Ruins” is the conical tower built to form part of the main wall. This is an independent structure from its base upwards. It is 9 ft. high, and though built of irregularly shaped stones and without much adherence to courses, it is symmetrical in appearance. On its west side between it and the rounded end of the main wall is a space 2 in. wide on the floor and 5 ft. wide at 6 ft. from the floor. This narrow loopholed space still remains open, save for a single slab which at 6 ft. above the floor is built into the tower and the main wall, thus forming a sort of stone shelf. On the eastern side of the tower the space between it and the rounded wall of the entrance is neatly built up, and a slab is laid from the rounded wall into the courses of the tower at 5 ft. above the floor. Possibly these slabs on either side of the tower formed raised platforms to afford a view over the wall, while the narrow loophole might have served as a look-out. The circumference of the tower at 5 ft. from its base is 19 ft. 3 in.
The portion of these ruins which lies to the south of the main wall comprises (1) a wall running south at right angles to the main wall at 4 ft. from the west side of the entrance. This wall is 24 ft. long, and averages 3 ft. 6 in. in height, and is 2 ft. wide on its present summit; (2) a circular buttress built independently and standing opposite the outside of the main entrance at a distance of 8 ft. 6 in. Its height is now only 3 ft. 10 in., and its circumference at base is 28 ft. 4 in. It is hollow in the centre, and it has collapsed from summit to base on its southern side for a width of 3 ft. The obvious object of this buttress is to divide the open space on the outside of the entrance into two narrow passages, each of which could easily be defended by a few even against a great number of besiegers.
At 36 ft. east of the south side of the entrance is an outcrop of a wall 6 ft. long, and this runs due south at some 5 ft. in front of the main wall.
CHAPTER XIX
“THE VALLEY OF RUINS”
Posselt, Philips, Maund, Renders, Mauch Ruins, and South-East Ruins.
“THE Valley of Ruins” is on the north-east and east sides of the Elliptical Temple, and almost half-way between it and the south side of the east end of the Acropolis Hill. This conglomeration of ruins extends from the edge of the slope which runs along the north-east sides of both Elliptical Temple and No. 1 Ruins to within 60 yds. of the west side of East Ruins, and covers an area of about 250 yds. from east to west and 120 yds. from north to south. This area is the upper portion of the Zimbabwe Valley, which descends towards the east, the streams from this valley during the rainy season falling into the Mapudzi stream, which runs southwards down the Schlichter Gorge towards the Moshawasha Valley, and later finds its way into the Motelekwe River.
Till 1902–3 these extensive ruins, some of which are massive and most excellently constructed, remained not only unexplored but unexamined, and no particulars or plan had ever been attempted to be given, all writers being content to refer to them as “The Valley of Ruins,” while some writers altogether ignore the existence of the group. Dr. Helm, of Morgenster, whose professional duties have taken him twice every month for the last six years within a few score yards of the ruins, states that he never supposed the wood and the jungle contained any walls.
Since the Occupation in 1890 no attention has been paid to these ruins. No visitors’ or even native paths crossed the area, nor are there the slightest traces in the shape of trenches of relic hunters and gold prospectors having worked here. So unfrequented has it been that some fair-sized buck have recently been shot within the walls. The area was found to be covered with an almost impenetrable jungle of trees, bushes, and creepers. The local natives declared the place to be bewitched, and consequently they avoided it.