Decline of the Diamond Fields.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 145, 20 August 1872, Page 7

Decline of the Diamond Fields.

(Pall Mall Gazette.) We learn from South Africa that great deiindency prevails at the diamond fields, and do not wonder that diggers are disgusted, e life was a hard one at the best, even to pto the manner born; while to those ddle-class adventurers who flocked thither such numbers, nothing but great success lid make it even tolerable. It is no joke aking ground like a navvy in shadeless id under a scorching sun. When you are id to your little comforts it is disagreeable have to ration yourself frugally on tough •flesh, dispensing with bread and vegeiles, and buying condiments at the price of ddust; to sleep through rain and heat under rash or a waggon, or, if very luxurious, a nay bell-tent. Burning thirst has its distorts, but it turns to torment when you lonly slake it in tepid water sorely in need the filter. Still, when hope was young, 1 the diggings pretty nearly virgin, men kup their minds to endure this sort of jig. Those were the days when the stories k the round of the camps of diamonds aght from natives to-day for a waggon and :eam, and re-sold to-morrow for several lusauda sterling; of clay huts, run up in lie, whose sun-baked walls when they dried re to sparkle with gems. In those days

[gets not only believed in their finds, but Iterated their value, and the prices bid ;middlemen and merchants fostered their

d illusions. Patriotic and sanguine South icans seem to have assumed that the stones m the Vaal river must necessarily be of let as pure as those from Golconda or

bas Geraes. When they came to remit if purchases to Europe, they found in ny instances that they had burned their gets. Dealers in London and Amsterdam m their heads and pronounced the conbraents valuable and curious, but of defedly inferior quality. Besides, markets

ose customers are necessarily select must yspeedily be glutted. When stones differ fely in lustre and purity, it is difficult to ate a price, but on receipt of figures from me, buyers at the mines drew back into «sive caution. Then those of the diggers o could afford to hold declined altogether deal there. Some of the richest specued in their neighbours' gems, and embarked England with their prizes. They amused imselyes on the voyage by building castles the air, and counted confidently on a com*ncy for the rest of their days. We know cases where those who reckoned in this y found cause to regret bitterly that they inot " thrown away" their bargains at the "69. They were reduced to the option of "git here, or of laying aside their lockedcspital in the hope of realising it to better fpose in some indefinite future. These, be ; emembered, were the lucky ones, and we *»t we do not wondor that diggers are disWi The probability is that the popula--11 w the once thriving canvas cities will yast, and the mines be left to some knots Fading adventurers who can resign themTe 3 to severe work and moderate pay, ai the work is sweetened to them by a "j M speculation. Meantime it seems that before judgment is given in the "'ration between the rival potentates of ;* r ee State and the Transvaal Republic 'tone of contention may be hardly worth 'Picking. '

Chinese Ingenuity. ' [From the MarysvU}e Appeal] A little incident was brought to our notice a day or two since, which illustrates the ingenuity of the Chinese in a rather peculiar manner. "Mickey as he is familiarly called, owns a number of geese, which occasionally get into the slough' and stray away to the Chinese vegetable gardens which border this pleasant pool. Doubtless they would help themselres to John's cabbages on these predatory excursions, for it is well known that the descendants of Rome's ancient preservers have a fondness fortius article. The plan hit upon by John to prevent them from gratifying their natural propensities was ingenious and novel, and remained undiscovered until a few days since. Several geese belonging to Mr M'Daniels had died, and no reason could be assigned for this strange procedure on their part, for thdy were fat and healthy, and a goose is supposed to be a long-lived fowl. But when they were driven up to be picked the mystery was solved. Four of the birds were found gagged in a singular manner, and one which can hardly be described. A ring of tine wire, about two inches in circumference, was found in the mouth of each, held there by being turned over the top of the head and hooked in under the feathers. The way it came there is easily understood. The Chinamen, when making these rings, twisted two ends of the wire, turning the end over, making quite a strong hook. This was hung on a cabbage leaf or other vegetable and left to wait for the coming of the victim. In feeding the goose would strike its bill down to pick up a tempting morsel, and if one part of the bill went inside the loop its doom was sealed, for the loop would by the force of the blow be turned over the head of the luckless bird, and the hook, of necessity, would fasten under the feathers on the top of the head. A few struggles of the prisoned bird would draw the fine wire under the feathers out of sight, and thus the bird would be left unable to close its bill. In this condition, with its head high in air, it would run round in a circle until exhausted. Even in being driven home and observed in that situation it would require close inspection to detect the cause of this strange proceeding on the part of the tortured bird. Mr M 'Daniels has lost a large number, and only discovered the cause accidentally when engaged in picking them. If any one can produce a more ingenious method of getting rid of geese without killing them outright, we should like to be informed of the mode of disposing of them. We shall doubt the ingenuity of John no longer, but indorse that famous saying, " For ways that are dark, and tricks that are vain, the Heathen Chineo is peculiar."