The Simbaoce is

situated between the 20° and 21° of latitude, and

about 128 miles west of Sofala.

A writer in the Natal Mercury, under date of

the 2nd of February, 1869, says, when treating

of the ruins of Simbaoe: “A day’s march from

Andowa, between two hills, at the end of a vast

and fertile valley, are the ruins of Axum. To this

day incredible flights of stone steps conduct the

traveller up to the summits of the hills, in one of

which are found deep grottoes and vast halls, cut

out of the rock and ornamented with columns.

There, according to the traditions of the country,

is the tomb of the Queen of Saba. The adjoining

valley, shaded by majestic trees, is filled with the

remains of the city, consisting of huge blocks of

stone. Very little of the débris reveal their former

purpose. There may, however, be distinguished

two groups of fourteen or fifteen obelisks, thrown

down. Seven of them are covered with ornaments,

and are not less than thirty-six feet in length.

These masterpieces of ancient architecture reveal

to us the fact of an ancient civilization in the

heart of Africa, which has disappeared again

thousands of years since.”

Niebuhr tells us of a mighty Abyssinian empire

existing here, mentioning in particular Saba, and

says it was so powerful that even the Roman and

Parthian strength could not prevail against it. This

last statement is taken from a Greek inscription

found among the ruins, engraved in stone. On the

reverse side is another engraving, in some ancient

language, which has not yet been deciphered. The

savage tribes guard these ruins with jealous care.

No living animal is allowed to be killed in them,

no tree permitted to be destroyed, everything con-

nected with them being held sacred, as belonging

either to a good or evil power. A missionary, who

penetrated within a short distance of the ruins,

writes :—“ In this country were also found some

very old guns, in a hole in the mountain. We got

one of the locks of these guns, and found it to have

a wheel outside with cogs or teeth ; and a tradition

exists that they came from these ruins. The

Basutos often tell us, when asked if they acknow-

ledge God, about the big stones in the Banyai,

where all created things are to be seen, even

sphinxes, pyramidal-shaped buildings, and cata-

combs.”

The Greek ins

A writer in the Xatal Mercui-y,

under dale of the 2d of Feb.. J86!», says, when

treating of the ruins of Simbaoe:—“A day’s

march from Andowa, lietween two hills, at the end

of a vast and fertile valley, are the ruins of Axum.

To tills day incredible flights of stone steps con¬

duct Uie traveller up to ttie summits of tlie hills,

in one of which are found deep grottoes and vast

halls, cut out of tlie rock and omuniented witli col-

uiiiiis. Tliere, according to the traditions of tlie

country, is the tomb of tlie Queen of Saba. The

adjoining valley, shaded by majestic trees, is filled

by the remains of tlie city, consisting of huge

blocks of stone. Very little of the dibns reveal

their former purpose. There may, however, be

distinguished two groups of fourteen or fifteen

obelisks, thrown down. Seven of them are cov¬

ered with ornameuts. and are not less than thirty,

six feet in length. These masterpieces of an¬

cient architecture reveal to us tlie fact of an an¬

cient civilization in the heart of Africa, w'hicli has

disap)>earod again tliousands of years since.” Nie¬

buhr tells us of a mighty Abyssinian empire ex¬

isting here, mentioning in particular Saba and

says it was so powerful that even tlie Roman and

Fartliian strength could not prevail again-t it.

This last statement was taken from a Greek in¬

scription found among the ruins,engraved in stone.

On the reverse side is anotlier engraving, in some

ancient language, which has not yet been deci¬

phered. The savage trilies guard these ruins with

jealous care. No living animal is allowed to bo

254 ART. [August,

killed in them, no tree permitted to be destroyed, getlier with nn interesting example exhumed

everything connected with them being held sa- some two years since in excavating near the pre-

crod, as belonging either to a good or evil power, sent site of the foundation of the Union Bank of

A missionary, who penetrated within a short dis- London. Adjoining the j^vement are the foiinda-

tance of the ruins, writes:—*• In this country tions of Roman walls, with other evidences of

were also found some very old guns, in a hole in extensive buildings. The works, however, hav-

the mountain. We got one of the locks of these ing only just commenced, it is possible that many

guns, and found it to have a wheel outside, with other interesting remains of Roman works may be

cogs or teeth; and a tradition exists that they discovered,

came from these ruins. The Basutos often tell _ „ . . ^

ua, when asked if they acknowledge God, about Vnrinhon» of the Compass. —-A paragraph

the big stones in the Banyai, where all created apjieared some time ago in the frontier papers an-

tliings are to be seen, even sphinxes, pyramidal- noundng that Mr. J. H. Davies, of Colesberg, had

shaped buildings, and catacombs."

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A LOUT JtATlOIt.

A writer in the Natal Mtacury, under

dale ol February 2, IWJ, say, when treat­

ing ot the mlns ol Simbaoe :

A day's march from Andowa, between

two hills at the end of a vast and fertile

valley, are the ruins ol Axum. To thi day

incredible flight ot toue stop conduct the

traveler tip to the. summit uf t hilL'ly

One of wEicharo lound deep" grottoc and

i am ii 1 1 ii, cut out ot tlie rock and orna­

mented wUi columns. There, according

to the tradition ol the country, i the

tomb ot tlie queen of Saba. The adjoining

valley, shaded by majestic trees, is filled

by the remain of the city, consisting of

Jiuge blocks ot row Very tittle ot the

debris reveal their former purp se. There

may, however, be distiiguifciBa two groups

of fourteen or fifiouii obelisks, thrown

down, be veti of them are discovered with

ornament. .d arts not lee than thirty six

toet m lcilgih. Those waaU'ilevet oT' u.

cieut archiiecture reveal to us the fact ot an

ancient civiliaatiou iu the heart c! Allies

which ha d,isBprei; again thousands of

le"!?L'nc- Miebtlhr tells liaof. n.-rhtT

Abyaiuuiau einiiiro existing here, rueiitiuu-

iug in particular Uaba, and says it was so

poweilul thai eycu tho Romau and Par­

thian slieigih could not prevail against it.

t his last statement wss taksu from a

Greek inscription found among tha ruins

engraved in stone. On the reverse sije ia

auolher engraving In somu ancient .lan­

guage, whit h has not yet been deciphered.

The savage tribe guaid these ruina with

j aloos care. No living annnai is allowed

io be killed in tiieui, uo tree e(mitied to

be destroy. d, every thing qouiiecied. witU

Uiem bung- hold sacred, u belonging

either to agood or evil power. -A-uuaioo-ai-y

who peiitt a cd wituiu a abort diatoms

ot thu rums wut. s : "in this e-runtry weie

also found some very old guuo, in o hole in

tlie mountain. We got cue ot these guns,

ond touud it to have a. wheel outsidu, with

cogs or teeth, aud a tradition exists tha

they came Irom these ruins. Tlie liaamo

Often tell lis, when asked It they ac­

knowledge God, about th big atones in the

liauysi, where all ereaUd things ate to be

seen, even sphynxoa, pyramiual shaped

building, autl catauouibs.'1

A Lost Natton.—A writer in the Natal Mer-

cury, under date of February 2, 1869, says, when

treating of the ruins of Simbace: “A day’s march

from Andowa, between two hills, at the end of a vast

and fertile valley, are the ruins of Axum. To this

day incredible flights of stone steps conduct the trav-

eler up the summits of the hills, in one of which are

found deep grottoes and vast halls, cut out of the rock

and ornamented with columns. There, according to

the traditions of the country, is the tomb of the Queen