MASHONALAND, ma-shotna-Lind, South Africa, a province forming the northeastern portion of South Rhodesia, between the Zam-. ben and Matabeleland. It consists largely of open plains and table-lands, is well watered by the Umniate and other feeders of the Zambesi and is very fertile. The Mashonas belong to the Kaffir race and were formerly masters of the whole territory between the Limpopo and the Zambesi, but were cooped up within their present territory by the powerful Matabele, whom they were unable successfully to resist. They are a peaceful people, clever as smiths and as weavers of cotton fabrics. The country came under the management of the British South Af rica Company in 1890. It is rich in gold, which has been mined here at some• remote and un known period, old workings being still visible, and Mashonaland is with some degree of prob ability identified with the biblical Land of Ophir. Salisbury is the chief town. The population of
Mashonaland is estimated at 12,600 whites and 495,450 natives. Other towns are Hartley. Ga tuma, Umtali and Victoria. Salisbury is con nected with Beira, Portuguese East Africa, by a railroad. From Salisbury north another rail road extends 580 miles through Buluwayo•to the Victoria Falls, where there is a new bridge over the Zambesi. This road is a section of the Cape to Cairo Railway. For the antiquities, anthro pology, history, etc., of Mashonaland, consult Bent, J. T., 'Ruined Cities of Mashonaland' (London 1892) ; Hall, R. N., (Prehistoric Rho desia' (Chicago 1910) ; id., 'Great Zimbabwe' (London 1905) ; Darter, A.. (Pioneers of Ma shonaland> (ib. 1914) : Randall-Maclver, D., 'Mediaeval Rhodesia) (ib. 1906) ; Scions, F. C., 'Travel and Adventure in South-East Africa' (London 1893) ; Waal, D. C., 'With Rhodes in Mashonaland' (Cape Town 1896).