Drain-holes.—There are three well-constructed drains running through walls; one passes the divisional wall which is on the eastern side of the building, another passes through the main eastern wall into the outer enclosure, and the third is in the east wall of the outer enclosure.
Semi-circular Buttress.—This structure lies on the south side of the ruins, and projects 16 ft. into the interior. The total length round the face is 32 ft. It is 24 ft. across the back, and 10 ft. high on the west, 6 ft. high on the north, and 6 ft. high on the east. It appears to be perfectly solid, and once to have had a level surface. Large trees have grown on its south and west sides, and have done considerable damage to it. Two small walls are on its north-east side, and these run towards the buttress as if they once had formed the approach to the summit.
Outer Enclosure.—On the eastern side is an enclosure, but somewhat roughly built. It is 51 ft. from north to south, and 30 ft. from east to west at its southern end, and 19 ft. from east to west at its northern end. This enclosure has been extensively filled in with soil and the usual Kafir débris, among which were found two pairs of double iron gongs.
West Passage.—This passage, which was discovered by Bent in 1891, runs along the outer side of the main west wall for 60 ft. It is 3 ft. to 4 ft. wide, and the wall on the west side of it is very much dilapidated. From the western entrance to these ruins the passage runs 27 ft. further north, and descends some 29 ft. by means of stairs, and then passes out between high walls on to the granite floor of Renders Ruins, which are in the Middle Section of “The Valley of Ruins.”
General.—The position of the Mauch Ruins on their east and north-east sides is strengthened for defensive purposes by a steep drop of about 12 ft. down on to the level occupied by the Middle Section of “The Valley of Ruins.” This drop is formed by an almost vertical granite glacis, which it would have been very difficult to climb.
Finds.—Gold wire, beaten gold, and gold beads, and portions of sea-green glazed pottery of white clay.
SOUTH-EAST RUINS
These ruins are situated at the south-eastern extremity of the Zimbabwe Ruins’ area where the Valley of Ruins terminates on its eastern side, and are only ten minutes’ walk from Havilah Camp. They occupy a summit of a bare and rounded kopje, commanding most extensive views of the country beyond Schlichter Gorge to the south and of the Arowi district towards the east-north-east. Its position is highly strategetic, and there is a steep descent on the south-west side into a deep gorge, down which the stream rising on the east side of the Elliptical Temple flows toward the Mapudzi.
The area of well-defined walls is 140 ft. from north to south, and 120 ft. from east to west, but there are traces of walls in all directions—on the south at 70 yds. and on the south-west at 20 yds. distance. The formation rock crops to the present surface at many places, and the depth of soil elsewhere is inconsiderable.
The style of building very closely resembles that of Ridge Ruins, which lie between the Elliptical Temple and Havilah Camp, as to which there are considerable doubts of its being of very remote antiquity.