The South African Diamond Mines.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 120, 27 February 1872, Page 7

The South African Diamond Mines.

[From the latest Cape Town papers.] A gold nugget, weighing 1H oz., has been found at the fields. It has created quite a sensation among the diamond diggers. Mr Lloyd, a transport-rider, who went to the fields a few months ago, with five loads of merchandise, returned to Burghersdorp the other day. He has been the lucky finder at the new rush of over 200 diamonds. A shilling a cart load is paid at the fields for conveying stuff the distance of a hundred yards. With a couple of mules and a strongcart, a man may easily earn from thirty to forty shillings a day. It is rumoured that a Queen's Town party working at the New Rush have turned out a 91 carat diamond, of good shape and colour. It is to be hoped, for the sake of those interested, that the rumour may revolve itself into substantial fact. A fortune-teller who made it his business at the fields with a pack of cards to tell people their luck, has been enabled in a few months to scrape together several thousand pounds, with which he has left the fields. Two men lately passed through Queen's Town, on their way to the mother country. They came here about twelve months ago, and have been very successful. They intend going home to spend Christmas with their friends, returning to the colony early in the year. They have between three and four thousand pounds in their possession, and j have left the remainder of their party at I work in the new rush. They hope to hear i of large accession to their wealth on their return, the proceeds of finds at the claim ! worked for them. The following extracts from a letter written I by a gentleman on the fields, and published ! in the Ki)ig William's Town Gazette, will be read with interest by the ladies:—"And ' here I may mention that most of the diggers who are married, and intend to remain any | length of time, are getting up their wives ; j so that society is likely to be more settled in

J future. Already, in the different places of I I worship, the larger portions of the ccmgrega- ; gation is formed of females. There is a say- i . ing here that one woman is worth two men ! | in a party, and there is no doubt a married couple is better than two single men. For I I putting things to rights about a place, fori working, and for sorting, it is generally adI mitted there has been nothing yet invented J to equal a woman." A gentleman recently returned from the diamond-fields informs the Uitenhage Timzs that religious services are carried on under ' considerable difficulties there. It is no unI usual thing, on proceeding to church after a [ high wind, to find that the tent has been 1 blown down, and service suspended. Weather, ! I &c, permitting, service is held on the Sabj bath, morning and evening. The minister ! arrives with a candle iu his hand, and Bible and hymn-book in his pocket, taking his position on the sand, or, haply, on an empty pack-ing-case. Soon the congregation arrive, each | person bringing his own seat, candle, and a ■ box of matches. The minister takes out his Bible, which he places under one arm, lights : his candle, which he holds in one hand, and from his hymn-book, which be holds in the other, he gives out a hymn. The congregation then light their candles, and after two or three attempts to pitch a tune in the right key, the singing proceeds. As soon as the | last verse of the hymn is sung, the candles I are blown out, to be relit when the next i hymn is given out. After service, a collection is made by some one, who volunteers j this duty for the minister. He generally carries the hat round. Weekly sales of diamonds are held at the Commercial sale-rooms. The return of one j report before us was £1,392 ; of another, ! €2,623 los. The diamonds seemed to ave- ; rage from live to thirty carats. ! _______