GENERAL PLAN
OF
ZIMBABWE RUINS
showing
the general position of each ruin
South-west.—Looking towards the south-west and in the near distance is the rising ground between the Bentberg and Rusivanga[18] kopjes, and the native path leading over it to Bingura’s kraal. At the foot of Rusivanga and 150 yards from Havilah Camp, and on a knoll on which is a large old tree, was for some time the camp of Adam Renders, known by the natives as Sa-adama, who rediscovered Zimbabwe in 1868, and who was here visited by Mr. George Philips, the ivory trader of the very early days, and by Dr. Karl Mauch, the latter of whom gave in 1871 the first information of the ruins for almost three hundred years. Here Renders traded extensively for ivory. Previously to Dr. Mauch’s visit Renders lived at Nini, eleven miles south-west of Zimbabwe.
Beyond the nearer ridge is a deep and wide valley on the near side of which is Bingura’s kraal, and from this valley the land rises towards the southern extremity of the Livouri Mountains some ten miles from Zimbabwe, and in the immediate distance, though much nearer the Livouri Range, is Providential Pass, through which the hunter, Mr. F. C. Selous, led the Pioneer Column in 1890. In the same line of view, but slightly nearer, is where Renders’ first station was located.
West.—Looking due west there are two kopjes—Rusivanga and Makuma—which close in the Zimbabwe Valley on that side at a third of a mile distance. Further west of the two kopjes is a wide undulating valley some six or eight miles wide which runs along the east side of the Livouri Mountains, and this is studded at intervals with low and bare granite kopjes. The kraal of the dynastic chief Cherimbila is at Rovali, at the southern extremity of the range. The highest point of the Livouri is Niande, a hill in the centre of this range with steep and almost inaccessible sides. Behind the Livouri Range is seen the high conical summit of the Cotopaxi Mountain, which forms one of the principal landmarks of this portion of Southern Mashonaland. Towards the south end of the Livouri Range is a large hill called Mowishawasha. Washa is always associated by the natives with power and authority. The natives never climb to the top of this hill without going through some form of devotion on their way up; also on passing close to the hill they will stop and clap hands. Natives will not state the actual reason. Probably an important Makalanga chief of some past times was buried there. Near to this hill is a smaller one known as Tchib-Fuko, which also has some native superstitions attached to it. It was in this district the wooden platter with the zodiacal signs was discovered by Mr. Edward Muller, also the pot “Fuko-ya-Nebandge.”
North-west.—To the north-west, and on the opposite side of the valley at the foot of Zimbabwe Hill, and beyond the Outer Defence Wall which encloses the Zimbabwe ruins on the west and north sides, is a low granite knoll called Pasosa, with outlying huts belonging to Mogabe’s kraal. A few yards behind the huts is a ruin (Pasosa, No. 1), with a second ruin (Pasosa, No. 2) 60 yards farther north. The country beyond in this direction is the valley land of the Moshagashi River, which is some six to eight miles broad, the horizon showing low hills, over which are the line of houses and trees of Victoria township, fifteen miles distant as the crow flies, and beyond again are the uplands of the range north of Victoria. The principal kraals in this direction are Baranzimba’s (two miles) and M’Tima’s (three and a half miles).
VIEW FROM ACROPOLIS SHEWING THE ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE IN THE VALLEY, ZIMBABWE
North.—In the north is the lower continuation of the Moshagashi Valley, at this point some eight miles broad. Here the granite formation of Zimbabwe terminates and the slate commences. The principal kraal, and by far the largest in this area, is that of Chinongu, which is four miles from Zimbabwe. Extending from N.N.W. to N.N.E. are the high and romantically shaped Besa Mountains, and at their eastern extremity can be seen in the blue distance the Lovugwe country.
North-east.—To the north-east, at a distance of eight miles and cutting the sky-line, is the range of the Inyuni Hills. Their sides are exceedingly steep and, being slate, their contours contrast pleasantly with those of the kopjes of the granite formation. In the nearer distance is Motuminshaba, a granite kopje four miles away, and farther east Tchivi, another granite kopje three miles distant. The land towards the east-north-east descends to the Motelekwe River, the valley of which can be seen with Arowi, a huge, isolated granite kopje rising twelve miles distant, on the far bank of the Motelekwe. In this area kraals are numerous.